JOHN  A.  SEAVERNS 


3  9090  013  420   183 


■ 


WILLIAM     B.     FASIG 


BORN    AT    ASHLAND,    O.,    SEPT.    27,    1845, 
DIED    AT     BENNYSCLIFFE,     BREWSTER,    N.    Y.,     FEB.    19,     1902. 


FASIG'S 


TALES  of  the  TURF 


WITH 


MEMOIR 


In  which  is  included  a  History  of  the   Cleveland 

Driving  Park,  a  Review  of  the  Grand  Circuit, 

How  the   Gentlemen's   Driving   Club  of 

Cleveland  was  Started,  and  a  Sketch 

of  Fasig's   Sale   Business 


BY 

W.    H.    GOCHER 


PUBLISHED    BY 

W.  H.  Gocher,  Hartford,  Conn. 
1903 


b 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress  in  the 

year  1903,  by 

W.    H.    GOCHER, 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


PRESS    OF 

Winn  &  Jddson, 
cleveland,  o. 


INDEX 


MEMOIR. 


Jenny  Fluctuates 9 

Elected  Secretar3' 11 

1871  Meeting 13 

Quadrilateral  Beginning 15 

Hampden  Park  17 

Hartford 19 

Grand  Circuit 21-23 

Grand  Circuit  Table between  22-23 

1873  Meeting 25 

1874  Meeting 27 

1875  Meeting 29 

William  Edwards 31 

1876  Meeting 33 

Goldsmith  Maid  and  Smuggler 35-37 

Smuggler  Wins 39 

Outsiders  Win 41 

Hopples 43 

1878  Meeting 45 

Rarus  Breaks  the  Record  47 

1880  Meeting    49 

Keyes  and  Lucy 51 

1881  Meeting 53 

Four-in-Hand  Teams 55 

Bostick  and  Warrior 57 

The  Demon  Trotter 59 

What  2:14  Meant 61 

Wyandot  and  Keokee 63 

1883  Meeting 65 

On  the  Snow  in  New  York 67 

Sealskin  Brigade 69 


Maud  S.,  2:09% 73 

A  Ringer 75 


A  Race  to  Wagon ,7 

A  Battle  for  The  Throne 79 

Maud  S.,  2:08% 81 

A  2:04  Gait  83 

Phyllis  in  Lake  Erie 85 

An  Expensive  Work  Out 87 

Brown  Hal  and  Palo  Alto    89 

A  Buffet  of  Fortune 91 

Patron  and  Harry  Wilkes 93 

L887  Meeting 95 

1888  Sale 97 

T  wisting  the  Talent 99 

Sale  of  Guy 101 

Guy  Sold  for  $29,750 103 

1889  Meeting 105 

Emery  and  Fasig  107 

1890  Meeting 109 

The  Intimidators Ill 

1891  Sale    113 

Temple  Bar  Expelled 115 

Mollie  A.  a  Ringer 117 

1892  Meeting 119 

The  Elyria's  Winning 121 

L893  Meeting 123 

1894  Meeting 125 

13  127 

Rifle 129 

Bike  Sulky  Cut  Records 131 

The  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club 133-135 

The  Challenge  Trophy 137 

1897  Meeting 139 

1899  Meeting 141 

1900  Meeting 143 


INDEX. 


Synopsis  of  Meetings between  144-145 

Fasig  Goes  to  New  York 145 

1893  Sales 147-149 

1895  Sales 151 

Star  Pointer 153 

1897  Sales 155 

Change  in  the  Firm 157 

Fasig-Tipton  Co 159 

The  Abbot  Sold  for  $26,500 161 

Millions  for  Horses 163 

Thoroughbred  Sales 165 


Suburban  Farm  Sale 167 

Sales  of  Harness  Horses 169 

Sales  of  Thoroughbred  Horses  171 

The  End 173 

Sale  Ring  Reminiscences 175 

Bought  the  Wrong  Horse 177 

Combination  of  Contradictions 179 

An  Advertiser 181 

A  Reinsman 183 

Press  Comments 185 


TALES  OF  THE  TURF. 


Andy  and  I 266 

A  Speedway  Incident 278 

A  Strange  Land 224 

Buffalo  Park 309 

Good  Luck 2.58 

Heat  Betting 293 

How  a  Swipe  Won 303 

In  Bret  Harte's  Country 282 

Klatawa's  Diary 274 

Limit  of  Trotting  Speed 264 

Matt  Laird  and  Rubenstein  312 

McDoel 214 

Musket 305 

Pat  Shank 289 


Seventy  Dollars 280 

Stranger 248 

Temperament  of  Brood  Mares 211 

The  American  Trotting  Horse 259 

The  Highly  Polished  Gold  Brick 310 

The  Old  Plan  the  Best 286 

The  Ride  of  a  Life  Time 307 

The  Sandpiper 235 

The  Secretary 244 

The  Trotter  on  the  Farm 295 

Trotting  Tracks 188 

Types  of  Horses 253 

Wyokee 313 


This  Book  is  Dedicated  to 
THE    AMERICAN    TROTTER 

A  type  of  horse  that  contributed  materially  to  the  pleasure, 
health  and  wealth  of  the  inhabitants  of  North  America  during 
the  last  half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  On  the  road,  to  harness 
and  on  the  farm  the  trotter  stands  as  the  highest  type  of  equine 
intelligence  and  equine  usefulness,  being  able  to  do  all  kinds  of 
work  from  racing  to  pulling  a  plough,  and  it  is  the  sincere  hope 
of  the  writer  of  this  note  that  the  sentiment  created  by  the  record- 
breaking  performances  of  Flora  Temple,  Dexter,  Goldsmith 
Maid  and  their  successors  to  championship  honors,  as  well  as 
their  contemporaries,  will  continue  throughout  this  century  and 
for  all  time  place  the  purely  American  sport  of  harness  racing  on 
so  high  a  plane  that  the  trotter  shall  never  become  a  matter-of- 
fact  medium  for  speculation. 


MEMOIR. 


When  presenting  the  horse  stories  written  by  the  late 
William  B.  Fasig,  it  is  not  the  intention  of  the  writer  to 
give  a  review  of  his  life  other  than  that  portion  of  it  cov- 
ering his  connection  with  harness  racing.  It  was  his 
hobby,  and  fortune  willed  that  from  that  source  he  should 
win  a  competence,  only  to  be  carried  off  after  he  had  set- 
tled down  at  Bennyscliffe  to  enjoy  himself  breeding  and 
developing  a  few  colts  from  Keokee,  Eloise,  and  other 
mares  which  he  had  tried  on  the  turf  and  found  up  to  his 
standard  of  excellence.  These  stories  have  been  resur- 
rected from  the  files  of  the  turf  papers  and  put  in  book 
form,  as  they  are  worth  preserving  on  account  of  their 
literary  merit,  while  to  those  who  knew  their  author,  they 
should  be  doubly  acceptable,  as  they  will  from  time  to 
time  remind  the  reader  of  a  clever,  whole-souled,  enthu- 
siastic horseman,  whose  idol  was  the  American  trotter,  a 
product,  as  he  termed  it,  "That  did  not  require  any  natur- 
alization papers." 

William  Benjamin  Fasig  was  born  September  2.7, 
1845,  at  Ashland,  Ohio.  His  father  was  a  minister  and 
a  good  horseman,  and  there  is  nothing  on  record  to  show 
that  he  was  displeased  when  he  learned  that  "Benny"  had 
a  leaning  in  that  direction.  For  that  matter,  all  of  the 
Fasig  family  were  tarred  with  the  same  stick,  Benny's 
uncles  being  famous  for  "that  smooth,  versatile,  good- 
will-on -earth  way  of  talking  about  a  horse  that  is  never 
the  result  of  education  or  practice,  but  a  trait  born  in  the 


8  MEMOIR. 

infant  who  is  in  after  life  a  genuine  admirer  of  a  good 
horse."  Of  these  Uncle  Dan  was  the  star.  He  had  an  eve 
for  a  horse,  while  he  never  grew  weary  expatiating  on 
the  beauty  and  goodness  of  a  certain  blaze-faced,  small 
gelding,  bay  in  color  and  "Morgan  on  both  sides,"  that 
could  out  trot,  out  walk,  out  run,  and  out  pull  any  horse 
in  Ashland  County  for  fun,  money  or  marbles. 

The  old  story  about  the  bent  twig  has  a  striking  exam- 
ple in  the  case  of  William  B.  Fasig.  From  the  time  that 
he  could  toddle,  the  stable  had  more  attraction  for  him 
than  the  schoolhouse,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  permitted 
to  drive  a  horse,  a  brush  on  the  road  or  the  third  of  a 
mile  tan  bark  track,  was,  in  his  eyes,  the  only  thing  on 
earth  worth  living  for.  The  limit  of  boyhood  delights 
was  reached  when  his  father  gave  him  two  mares.  One 
was  called  Nell  and  the  other  Jenny.  Nell  was  a  roan 
mare  considerably  older  than  her  new  owner.  She  had 
the  heaves,  a  docked  tail,  and  was  adorned  with  a  pair  of 
bone  spavins.  But  all  of  these  defects  were  lost  sight  of 
from  the  fact  that  she  could  trot  like  a  blue  streak.  There 
was  not  a  horse  in  that  "neck  of  woods"  that  could  step 
by  her,  and  the  climax  was  reached  when  she  made  her 
youthful  owner  the  "King  of  the  castle"  by  defeating  the 
local  star, Lucy, at  the  county  fair,  for  a  $25  purse  in  3  103. 
The  band  was  not  called  out  to  "See  the  conquering  hero 
come,"  but  the  desire  to  have  it,  and  the  showman  in- 
stinct to  wish  for  it  was  there,  even  at  that  date.  For 
weeks  "Benny"  Fasig  and  Nell  were  at  the  top  of  the 
heap,  and  when  Uncle  Dan  called  there  was  talk  of  rec- 
ord-smashing that  made  the  performances  of  Lady  Suf- 
folk, Ethan  Allen,  Dutchman  and  Flora  Temple,  look 
hazy.  All  dreams  of  youth  have  silver  linings.  We  have 
all  had  them,  our  children  will  have  them,  their  children 


JENNY    FLUCTUATES.  9 

will  have  them,  and  so  it  will  go  on  to  the  end  of  time. 

Nell  was,  however,  fated  to  fall  from  the  pedestal 
erected  by  her  owner  as  there  was  a  rival  in  the  stable.  It 
was  Jenny.  She  was  a  four-year-old,  a  beautiful  brown, 
and  one-eyed.  The  skill  acquired  in  handling  Nell 
caused  Jenny  to  put  her  right  foot  forward  and  step  off 
with  that  coveted  one,  two,  three,  four  beat  of  the  regu- 
lation trotter.  Over  thirty  years  after,  Fasig's  eyes 
would  sparkle  as  he  told  how  Jenny  could  go  by  Nell 
"the  same  as  a  streak  of  lightning  would  pass  a  funeral 
procession."  In  one  of  his  letters  to  the  Horse  Review 
he  said :  "I  played  Jenny  for  a  'quarter  hoss,'  and  she 
could  run,  until  one  day  I  found  she  could  trot.  Gee 
whiz !  how  she  could  step.  I  wish  I  had  her  now,  in  the 
days  of  bike  sulkies,  and  silk  velvet  tracks.  She  had  a 
gait  like  Dexter's,  that  opened  and  shut  like  a  steel  trap, 
game  and  gritty,  and  wild ;  you  bet  she  was ;  but  she 
always  stuck  to  a  trot.  One  day  father  and  I  went  into 
the  country.  Jenny  was  hitched  to  a  spring  seat,  one- 
horse  wagon,  and  on  our  return  trip  we  struck  a  drove  of 
hogs.  Jenny  and  hogs  hardly  danced  in  the  same  set,  and 
I  didn't  have  a  howling  hankering  to  tackle  that  drove, 
neither  did  I  dare  show  dad  the  white  feather.  We 
started  cautiously  and  had  got  quarter  way  through  the 
drove,  when  an  idiot  pig  got  under  the  hind  wheel  and 
protested.  Jenny  'fluctuated'  just  once;  father  went 
over  backwards,  and  I  hung  to  the  lines  tight  as  polish  on 
a  tombstone.  There  was  activity  in  the  pork  market,  and 
it  is  conceded  in  that  locality  that  the  next  four  miles  were 
negotiated  in  record-breaking  time.      Nobody  was  hurt. 

Jenny  remained  the  property  of  William  B.  Fasig 
until  he  ran  away  from  school,  a  few  days  before  he 
was  sixteen,  to  join  James  Garfield's  Forty-second  Regi- 


10  MEMOIR. 

ment  of  Ohio  Volunteers.    x\fter  the  close  of  the  war  he 
removed  to  Cleveland,  where  he  was  employed  by  a  com- 
mercial house.     When  well  under  way  in  the  matter  of 
making  a  living  a  trotter  was  purchased,  the  first  one 
selected  being  the  outlaw  Chestnut  Dick.     It  is  alleged 
that  before  passing   into   Fasig's  hands  this   horse  had 
masqueraded  under  such  names  as  Pompey,  John  T.,  etc., 
and  had  made  a  faster  mark  than  the  2  138  that  stands 
after  his  name  in  Chester's  Complete  Trotting  and  Pacing 
Record.    Whether  he  did  or  not  does  not  make  much  dif- 
ference at  this  date,  while  at  the  time  Fasig  purchased 
him  his  history  was  well  known  by  the  followers  of  the 
races  in  Northern  Ohio.     In  the  seventies  there  were  a 
number  of  non-association  tracks  in  Ohio,  so  that  it  was 
possible  for  Chestnut  Dick  and  other  horses  that  had  car- 
ried an  assortment  of  names  to  pay  their  way  by  racing 
at  the  fairs  which  began  in  the  middle  of  August  and 
continued  until  the  snow  flew.     At  the  period  referred  to 
there  was  always  a  cloud  of  uncertainty  surrounding  a 
strange  horse  at  a  fair  in  the  Western  States,  and  Ohio 
was  considered  in  the  West  at  that  time.     That  era  of 
harness  racing  has  fortunately  gone  forever,  and  no  one 
did  more  to  stamp  it  out  than  William  B.  Fasig.     He 
had  seen  both  sides  of  it,  and  had  a  very  fair  idea  how  a 
man,  who  was  racing  a  clever  young  horse  on  his  merits, 
felt  after  being  defeated  or  driven  to  a  fast  record  by  a 
"rinsrer."    When  it  came  to  a  case  of  "diamond  cut  dia- 
mond,"  it  did  not  make  so  much  difference,  as  while  the 
rogues  gave  the  public  to  all  appearances,  a  horse  race, 
they  usually  before  the  last  heat  was  contested,  took  a 
practical  view  of  the  situation  and  made  "a  divide."    But 
that  is  another  matter. 

W.  B.  Fasio;  told  me  that  he  won  a  number  of  races 


ELECTED   SECRETARY.  11 

with  Chestnut  Dick,  but  none  of  them  have  been  reported 
except  a  $200  match  which  was  trotted  with  Maggie  Kim- 
berly, an  old  time  dot-and-carry-one  trotter  owned  by 
Fred  Kimberly,  one  of  the  original  characters  of  the 
Forest  City.  The  pair  met  at  Elyria,  May  29,  1872,  and  the 
following  summary  shows  that  they  had  a  busy  afternoon  : 

Chestnut  Dick,  ch.  g.,  by  John  Henry; 

William  B .  Fasig 2     1     2     1     1 

Maggie  Kimberly,  b.  m.;  Fred  Kimberly  1     2     1     2     2 

Time— 2:43,  2:38,  2:42^,  2:41^,  2:41. 

According  to  the  official  records  this  was  William  B. 
Fasig's  first  appearance  on  the  trotting  turf,  his  juvenile 
victory  with  Nell  at  the  Ashland  fair  "befo'  the  war" 
having  escaped  the  collector  of  turf  statistics. 

In  1882,  through  the  influence  of  Colonel  William 
Edwards,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  elected  Secre- 
tary of  the  Cleveland  Club,  which  at  that  time  controlled 
the  mile  track  at  Glenville.  In  that  position  William  B. 
Fasig  made  his  reputation  as  a  race  track  official  and  a 
horseman,  and  also  first  showed  the  qualities  which  in 
time  stamped  him  as  one  of  the  cleverest  advertisers  that 
has  ever  been  connected  with  the  horse  industry  in 
America.  Under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Edwards  (a 
man  who  was  loved  by  everyone  who  had  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  him,  and  who  was,  from  the  time  that  he  as- 
sumed office  in  1876,  up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1898,  the  directing  spirit  in  racing  affairs  in  Cleve- 
land), Fasig  equipped  the  grounds  and  at  the  same  time 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  reputation  which  harness  rac- 
ing enjoys  in  the  Forest  City.  As  Fasig's  name  is  in- 
separably linked  with  the  track  over  which  so  many  fast 
records  have  been  made  and  memorable  races  contested, 
a  brief  sketch  of  it  and  the  early  meetings  held  there 
will  not  be  out  of  place  in  these  pages. 


12  MEMOIR. 

The  Cleveland  mile  track  was  built  in  1870  by  the 
Northern  Ohio  Fair  Company,  the  fair  feature  of  the  so- 
ciety being  located  on  the  grounds  now  known  as  Gorden 
Glen,  and  connected  with  the  race  track  by  a  bridge  over 
St.  Clair  street,  which  was  at  that  time  a  country  road. 
In  the  spring  of  187 1  the  following  advertisement  ap- 
peared in  the  columns  of  ''The  Spirit  of  the  Times"  and 
"The  Turf,  Field  and  Farm  :" 


THIRST   ANNUAL    SPRING    MEETING 

-**-  OF    THE 

CLEVELAND    CLUB, 

UNDER   THE  AUSPICES   OF  THE 

Northern    Ohio    Fair   Association, 

CLEVELAND,  O. 


JUNE  20,  21,  22,  and  23,  1871. 

Premiums,     -    -    -    -    $5,000. 

FIRST  DAY— Tuesday,  June  20. 
3:00  Purse.  $500.— $250,  $125,  $75,  $50. 
2:40  Purse.  $650.— $300,  $175,  $100,  $75. 

SECOND  DAY. 
2:50  Purse,  $500.— $250,  $125,  $75.  $50 
2:33  Purse,  $1,000.— $600,  $300,  $100. 


THIRD  DAY. 
Pacing  Race— Purse,  $300.— $175,  $75,  $50. 
2:45  Purse.  $500.— $2-50,  $125,  $75,  $50. 


FOURTH  DAY. 
Open  to  all— Purse,  $1,000.— $600,  $300.  $100. 
Running  Race,  Single  Dash— Purse,  $300.— $175,  $75, 
$50. 
Running  Race,  best  two  in  three— Purse,  $250. — $125, 

$75,  $50.  

RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 

The  trotting  shall  be  governed  by  the  rules  of  the 
National  Trotting  Association,  and  the  running  by 
the  rules  of  the  Cincinnati  Jockey  Club  Association. 

A  horse  distancing  the  field  shall  only  be  entitled 
to  first  premium. 

All  entries  for  premiums  must  close  the  13th  of  June. 

Entrance  ten  per  cent,  of  purse,  and  must  accom- 
pany nominations. 

All  communications  addressed  to  Geo.  W.  Howe, 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 

JOHN  TODD,  President. 

George  W.  Howe,  Secretary. 


1 8/  I    MEETING.  13 

In  addition  to  racing  under  the  rules  of  The  National 
Trotting  Association,  the  Cleveland  Club  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  organization,  which  was  then  located  at  Provi- 
dence, R.  L,  and  doing  business  as  the  National  Associa- 
tion for  the  Promotion  of  the  Interests  of  the  American 
Trotting  Turf.  The  engineer's  certificate,  filed  by  the 
Club,  also  shows  that  the  track  measured  5,280  feet  one 
inch,  three  feet  from  the  pole.  Those  figures  remained 
unchanged  until  1883  when,  after  a  few  alterations  the 
track  was  re-measured  and  found  to  be  5,280  feet  eight 
inches  in  circumference  three  feet  from  the  pole. 

A  short  time  after  the  programme  for  the  meeting  was 
announced,  the  Cleveland  Club  employed  John  Denman 
to  take  charge  of  the  track  and  grounds.  At  this  writ- 
ing (1902)  he  is  still  there,  and  is  known  from  the  Atlan- 
tic to  the  Pacific,  and  as  Adams  the  blacksmith  might 
remark,  several  places  in  Canada,  as  "Race  Track  Jack," 
whose  only  hobby  is  that  fast  strip  of  clay  which  is  re- 
ferred to  by  racing  men  as  the  "golden  oval  at  Glenville." 

The  first  heat  and  race  decided  over  the  Cleveland 
Driving  Park  was  won  by  the  gray  gelding  Silversides, 
and  this  race  was  also  the  first  in  which  that  horse  won 
a  heat.  Before  coming  to  Cleveland  Silversides  was  de- 
feated at  Alliance  and  Zanesville  by  a  horse  called 
Brown  Tom,  who  retired  from  the  turf  with  a  record  of 
2:45^/2,  while  the  gallant  gray,  who  was,  by  the  way,  a 
product  of  Columbiana  County,  trained  on  to  a  record  of 
2  '.22,  and  proved  one  of  the  best  race  horses  of  his  day. 
The  following  is  the  official  summary  of  the  race,  which 
will  be  of  interest  to  those  who  are  fond  of  locating  early 
events : 


14  MEMOIR. 

Cleveland,   Ohio,  June  20,  1871. 

Purse,  $500  for  horses  that  never  beat  three  minutes, 
$250,  $125,  $75,  $50. 

William  Stewart's  gr.  g.,  Silversides  by  Ches- 
ter Lion 1     1     1 

A.M.  Wilson's  gr.  m.,  Kittie 232 

E.  A.  Lytle's  blk.  m.,  Blackthorn 3     2     3 

T.  P.  Roche's  b.  m.,  Titusville. 544 

John  L.  Rush's  blk.  g. ,  Steer 4     dis. 

G.  A.  Myer's  blk.  g.,  Tom  Moore,  Jr dis. 

James  Myer's  br.  g. ,  Novelty dis. 

W.  C.  Gimmell's  br.  g dis. 

W.  F.  Archer's  rn.  m.,  Kittie dis. 

William  B.  Leonard's  blk.  g..  Dr.  Bonaparte  dis. 

J.  P.  Gilbert's  gr.  g.,  Billy  dishing dis. 

J.  P.  Hazard's  ch.  g.,  George dis. 

Time— 2:37^,  2:35,  2:38^. 

From  the  above  date  up  to  the  close  of  1879,  Silver- 
sides  was  raced  each  season,  and  in  that  period  met  and 
defeated  the  best  horses  in  training,  the  list  including 
such  old-time  stars  as  Harry  Mitchell,  Lew  Scott,  Red 
Oak,  Sleepy  John,  John  B.,  Hylas,  Elsie  Good,  Slow  Go, 
Belle  Brasfield,  Deception,  John  H.,  Annie  Collins,  Mon- 
arch Jr.,  Scott's  Thomas,  Cozette,  etc.,  while  he  at  dif- 
ferent times  took  the  word  with  Adelaide,  Darby,  Rarus, 
Bodine,  Dick  Swiveller,  Doctor  Lewis,  Huntress,  Lew- 
inski,  Red  Cloud,  Tom  Keeler,  and  a  host  of  others. 
John  Hines,  who  is  still  (1902)  training  a  few  horses  at 
Minerva,  Ohio,  drove  him  in  many  of  his  races.  Dash  was 
also  a  winner  on  the  opening  day  of  the  meeting.  He 
was  owned  in  Youngstown,  and  later  on  became  promi- 
nent as  Ohio  Boy. 

The  fastest  mile  trotted  at  the  inaugural  meeting  of 
the  Cleveland  Club  was  won  by  Monarch,  Jr.,  in  2:29^. 
He  started  in  the  2:33  class,  which  was  placed  to  the 


QUADRILATERAL    BEGINNING.  15 

credit  of  Annie  Watson,  a  chestnut  mare  by  Vermont 
Boy,  that  retired  with  a  record  of  2  133.  The  gray  geld- 
ing Dan  Voorhees  was  the  winner  of  the  only  pacing  race 
on  the  programme.  In  the  third  heat  of  it  he  placed  the 
track  record  for  harness  performers  at  2  125,  which  he 
reduced  to  2 1243/2  at  the  September  meeting,  when  he 
defeated  Sorrel  Frank  and  Lady  Mack.  The  Buffalo 
horse  Byron  won  the  free-for-all  on  the  last  day  of  the 
meeting,  while  both  of  the  running  races,  which  were  at 
a  mile,  were  awarded  the  six-year-old  chestnut  horse 
Boaster,  by  imported  Eclipse,  out  of  Vanity,  a  daughter 
of  Etiquette,  whose  dam  was  the  celebrated  Trustee  mare 
Fashion.  Boaster  was  in  good  form  that  afternoon  as 
he  galloped  one  of  his  miles  in  1  44^4,  and  for  that  mat- 
ter, he  was  prominent  all  of  the  season  after  his  owner 
succeeded  in  evading  Joseph  Cairn  Simpson  and  the 
Bonnie  Scotland  colt,  Van,  formerly  Blenkiron.  The 
judges  for  the  day  were  John  Tod,  E.  A.  Buck,  a  former 
resident  of  Cleveland,  but  at  that  time  living  in  Buffalo, 
and  L.  J.  Powers,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  all  three  of 
whom  were  named  as  stewards  of  the  Quadrilateral  Trot- 
ting Combination  when  it  was  organized  in  1873,  their 
associate  being  E.  Z.  Wright,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  WThat  is 
now  known  as  the  Grand  Circuit  can  be  traced  to  the 
Judges'  Stand  at  Cleveland  in  1871. 

While  speaking  of  the  beginning  of  the  Quadrilateral 
Trotting  Combination,  L.  J.  Powers,  who  has  been 
continuously  connected  with  harness  racing  in-  an 
official  capacity  longer  than  any  man  living,  and 
who  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Stewards,  told  me  that  the  question  of 
giving  a  consecutive  series  of  meetings  for  large 
purses  was  first  discussed  in  William  Edwards'  house  in 


16  MEMOIR. 

Cleveland,  on  one  of  the  evenings  of  the  inaugural  meet- 
ings of  the  Cleveland  Club  in  1S71.  The  subject  was  in- 
troduced at  dinner,  and  as  Mr.  Powers  remembers.  Col. 
Edwards  started  it.  Col.  Edwards'  guests  that  evening 
were  John  Tod.  the  president  of  the  Cleveland  Club,  and 
the  Northern  Ohio  Fair  Company ;  E.  A.  Buck,  who  was 
at  that  time  the  vice-president  of  Buffalo  Park  and  the 
wheel  horse  of  the  organization  which  that  season  gave 
S50.000  for  four  days'  racing  (^Chandler  J.  Wells  being 
president  i  :  and  L.  J.  Powers,  at  that  time  the  chairman 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Springfield  Club,  which 
had  held  meetings  at  Hampden  Park  in  1868  and  1869, 
and  which,  when  it  secured  control  of  the  track,  was  re- 
organized as  the  Hampden  Park  Trotting  Association. 

As  L.  T.  Powers  sat  in  his  home  on  Pearl  street. 
Springfield,  and  recalled  the  old  days  and  reunions  which 
were  held  annually  on  his  lawn,  sloping  off  towards  the 
city,  he  said:  "Billy  Edwards  and  I  were  boys  together 
in  this  town.  He  was  live  years  my  senior,  but  as  our 
tastes  were  similar,  especially  on  the  horse  question,  we 
traveled  in  the  same  set.  About  the  first  thing  I  can  re- 
member of  him  was  a  fondness  for  Connecticut  river  shad 
and  a  desire  to  own  a  good  horse  to  drive  on  the  road. 
As  a  starter  we  managed  to  save  a  few  dollars  to  hire  one 
that  could  trot  a  little.  I  do  not  now  remember  that 
either  of  us  were  particularly  anxious  to  race  with  every- 
one that  we  came  to.  but  there  was  always  the  satisfac- 
tion  in  knowing  that  we  could  if  we  wanted  to.  When 
the  time  came  for  both  of  us  to  strike  out  for  ourselves. 
William  Edwards  started  for  the  Western  Reserve  and 
located  in  Cleveland,  where  he  eventually  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  I  remained  here  and  established  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Powers  Paper  Company. 


HAMPDEN    PARK.  17 

"As  a  young  man  I  saw  the  first  horse  show  of 
national  importance  in  Ni  rth  America.  It  was  held  in 
Springfield,  October  10  to  13,  1853.  George  M.  Atwater 
was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  organization,  while  such  men 
as  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  Rufus  Choate  and  Edward 
Everett  were  numbered  among  its  guests.  The  show  was 
held  on  a  vacant  field  owned  by  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment and  now  covered  by  the  United  States  Armory 
buildings.  Temporary  stalls  were  erected,  as  well  as  a 
grandstand  and  a  half  mile  track,  on  which  Budd  Doble 
appeared  as  a  driver,  while  P.  T.  Barn  urn  was  judging 
ponies  in  the  infield.  The  show  was  a  success,  and  it  and 
its  successor  furnished  the  funds  to  build  Hampden 
Park,  which  was  inaugurated  in  1857  with  an  address  by 
the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher.  Exhibitions  were  given 
there  in  1858,  1859  and  i860.  Then  there  was  a  lull  until 
after  the  war.  The  first  race  meeting  was  held  in  1868. 
It  was  given  under  the  joint  management  of  the  Spring- 
field Club  and  the  Hampden  Park  Agricultural  Society. 
I  was  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  and  invited 
William  Edwards  to  be  one  of  the  judges.  He  was  with 
us  again  the  following  year,  when  he  told  me  that  Cleve- 
land would  soon  have  a  mile  track.  In  1870  he  wrote  that 
it  was  completed,  and  later  on  I  was  requested  to  go  to 
Cleveland  as  a  judge  at  the  inaugural  meeting  in  1871. 
When  I  returned  from  Cleveland  the  question  of  a  series 
of  meetings  was  left  in  abeyance  on  account  of  there  being 
but  three  tracks.     Another  link  was  wanted  in  the  chain. 

'"The  following  year,  while  the  Buffalo  meeting  was  in 
progress.  Col.  Edwards  and  I  were  E.  A.  Buck's  guests. 
One  evening  at  dinner  he  introduced  C.  W.  Hutchinson, 
who  was  at  the  head  of  an  association  which  had  built  a 
mile  track  in  Utica.     By  the  time  the  cigars  were  reached 


18  MEMOIR. 

the  foundation  was  laid  for  what  was  afterwards  known 
as  the  Quadrilateral  Trotting  Combination,  and  a  series  of 
meetings  on  consecutive  weeks  in  1873.  I  did  the  balance 
of  the  work  by  correspondence,  designed  the  first  letter 
heads  bearing  the  title  of  the  combination,  the  names  of 
the  stewards,  as  well  as  the  name  of  the  secretary, 
Samuel  Briggs,  the  Secretary  of  the  Cleveland  Club,  be- 
ing named  for  the  place.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Quad- 
rilateral was  held  at  Cleveland,  July  29  to  August  1,  the 
dates  for  the  other  members'  meetings  being  Buffalo, 
August  5  to  8;  Utica,  August  12  to  14,  and  Springfield, 
August  19  to  22.  The  premiums  for  the  four  meetings 
amounted  to  $169,300. 

'Tn  1874,  the  stewards  of  the  Quadrilateral  Trotting 
Combination  held  their  first  meeting  in  Utica,  as  C.  W. 
Hutchinson's  guests.  The  dates  for  the  year  were  se- 
lected and  programmes  announced,  but  before  the  bell 
rang  it  was  learned  that  an  association  at  Rochester  had 
decided  to  open  its  new  mile  track  with  a  meeting  the 
same  week  as  Utica.  The  clash  injured  both  meetings. 
In  1875,  Rochester  and  Poughkeepsie,  where  a  mile 
track  had  been  built  the  preceding  year,  became  mem- 
bers of  the  circuit,  the  name  for  the  series  being  changed 
to  the  Central  Trotting  Circuit.  This  change  resulted  in 
another  clash  on  account  of  Poughkeepsie  selecting  the 
same  dates  as  Buffalo,  and  in  order  to  secure  entries  the 
Poughkeepsie  association  cut  its  entrance  fee  to  5  per 
cent,  of  purse.  This  was  the  first  time  that  such  a  low 
entry  fee  had  ever  been  heard  of,  the  rate  being  10  per 
cent.,  and  it  remained  at  that  figure  in  the  Grand  Circuit 
until  1892,  when  it  was  changed  to  five  per  cent,  to  enter, 
with  5  per  cent,  additional  from  the  winners  of  each  di- 
vision of  the  purse. 


HARTFORD.  19 

"In  1874,  Charter  Oak  Park,  at  Hartford,  was  opened 
with  a  $30,000  meeting,  August  25  to  28.  Ebenezer  Rob- 
erts was  president,  Morgan  G.  Bulkeley,  treasurer,  and 
Alexander  Harbison,  secretary.  It  was  admitted  to  the 
circuit  in  1876,  and  is  still  a  member.  That  year,  or  the 
following  one,  the  Board  of  Stewards  were  the  guests 
of  the  Rochester  Driving  Park,  whose  officers  requested 
them  to  hold  all  of  their  future  meetings  in  that  city.  To 
decline  such  a  location  after  the  entertainment  provided 
by  the  Hon.  Fred  Cook,  E.  B.  Parsons,  George  J.  Whit- 
ney, George  W.  Archer  and  their  associates,  was  an  issue 
that  could  not  be  considered,  and  from  that  date  until 
Springfield,  and  for  that  matter,  until  Rochester  dropped 
out  of  line  in  1896,  the  Stewards  of  the  Grand  Circuit, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  held  their  annual  meetings  in 
that  City.  To  what  might  be  termed  the  "Old  Guard" 
there  are  many  pleasant  memories  attached  to  those 
meetings  and  banquets  at  which  the  love  for  a  good  horse 
and  the  purely  American  sport,  harness  racing,  was  the 
bond  of  fellowship.  Sentiment  without  a  particle  of  com- 
mercialism brought  together  the  men  who  sat  around  the 
board  each  year.  To  them  a  race  was  a  contest  for  which 
they  were  willing  to  pay,  should  the  associations  which 
they  represented,  and  in  a  few  instances  managed,  come 
out  at  the  small  end  of  the  horn  when  the  last  heat  was 
trotted.  This  happened  two  or  three  times  in  Springfield, 
there  being  one  season  when  seven  of  us  were  called  on 
to  chip  in  $1,000  apiece  to  balance  accounts.  Then  there 
were  years  when  the  balance  was  the  other  way.  In  the 
old  days  the  commercial  spirit  of  the  turf  was  left  to  those 
who  entered  and  drove  horses  and  the  general  public. 
The  financial  ventures  of  those  who  managed  meetings 
were  foreign  to  the  race  track.     Grand  Circuit  week  was 


20  MEMOIR. 

their  holiday,  and  they  took  as  much  pride  in  keeping  up 
the  standard  as  the  New  York  Yacht  Club  has  in  retain- 
ing the  America's  cup.  It  was  the  good  old  spirit  for 
genuine  sport  that  carried  Col.  Edwards  to  the  front  in 
Cleveland,  and  it  is  with  regret  that  I  see  this  spirit  on 
the  decline,  the  tendency  to-day  being  towards  shorter 
races  and  increased  speculation.  Such  a  course,  especially 
the  latter,  is  beset  with  danger,  for  without  a  big  grain  of 
sentiment,  harness  racing  can  never  retain  the  popular 
support  which  was  given  it  in  the  old  days  when  the 
names  of  Goldsmith  Maid  and  Dexter  were  household 
ivords,  and  when  every  slip  of  a  lad  with  a  hobby-horse 
or  a  sled,  designated  it  with  a  name  that  had  become 
prominent  on  account  of  record-breaking  performances. 
"In  the  thirty  years  that  have  elapsed  since  the  Quad- 
rilateral was  founded,  twenty-four  cities  have,  at  differ- 
ent times,  been  members  of  the  Circuit.  Cleveland  is  the 
only  one  that  has  given  a  meeting  each  year  in  member- 
ship. Buffalo  has,  with  two  exceptions,  given  a  meeting 
each  season.  Three  of  them  were  not  in  the  Circuit,  al- 
though two  of  the  three  were  held  on  its  old  dates  the 
first  week  in  August.  Utica  skipped  twice  before  it 
dropped  out  in  1888,  after  a  clash  with  Poughkeepsie,  its 
grounds  being  sold  for  a  public  institution.  Springfield 
failed  to  hold  meetings  in  1878,  1879  and  1882,  and  aban- 
doned the  idea  of  future  meetings  after  the  reform  move- 
ment in  1893.  Rochester  raced  regularly  from  1875  to 
1896,  while  Poughkeepsie  held  but  seven  Grand  Circuit 
meetings  between  1877  and  1894.  Hartford,  as  has  been 
stated,  was  admitted  in  1876,  and  is  still  a  member.  In 
1893  the  Charter  Oak  Park  stakes  were  decided  at  Fleet- 
wood Park,  New  York,  while  in  1895  and  1896  the  gates 
were  closed.     New  York  was  given  a  week  in  1877,  but 


GRAND    CIRCUIT.  21 

failed -to  hold  a  meeting  on  the  dates  named.  It  finally 
wheeled  into  line  in  1888, but  after  three  meetings  dropped 
out  until  1893.  Another  skip  followed  in  1898,  when 
Fleetwood  was  dismantled.  In  1899  the  Empire  City 
track  was  built  and  Grand  Circuit  meetings  were  held 
there  for  two  seasons.  Pittsburg  joined  the  Circuit  in 
1 88 1,  the  year  that  Homewood  Park  was  inaugurated,  the 
meeting  being  made  memorable  by  Maud  S.  trotting  a 
mile  in  2:10)2,  and  Bonesetter  falling  dead  in  one  of  the 
heats  in  the  2:19  class.  The  Grand  Circuit  horses  were 
there  again  in  1882  and  in  1884,  after  which  there  was  a 
blank  until  1890.  Another  skip  came  after  1893,  and 
Homewood  Park  was  marked  off  the  list.  The  business 
reverses  which  overtook  Amasa  Sprague  in  1873  kept 
Xarragansett  Park  out  of  the  original  Circuit,  and  Provi- 
dence, with  one  of  the  fastest  tracks  in  the  land,  did  not 
ask  for  dates  until  1883.  After  a  run  of  three  years  it 
dropped  out  until  1899.  Albany  was  a  member  from 
1884  to  1889.  Detroit  joined  in  1886,  but  withdrew  the 
following  year  when  the  American  Trotting  Association 
was  organized.  It  gave  independent  meetings  the  week 
prior  to  Cleveland  from  that  date  until  1893,  when  Ham- 
tramck  Park,  and  subsequently  the  beautiful  course  at 
Grosse  Point  were  again  added  to  the  list.  In  1889  Phil- 
adelphia was  given  a  week  for  a  meeting  at  Point 
Breeze,  but  it  did  not  race  in  membership  until  the  fol- 
lowing season.  It  dropped  out  in  1894.  Saginaw  was 
in  membership  from  1894  to  1896,  when  Columbus,  Fort 
Wayne  and  Indianapolis  were  admitted  to  what  was 
termed  the  'New  Grand  Circuit.'  Columbus  is  still  a 
member,  while  Indianapolis  remained  in  for  one  season 
and  Fort  Wayne  for  three.  Glens  Falls  and  Readville 
joined  in  1897,  and  Portland,  Me.,  was  assigned  dates  in 


22  MEMOIR. 

1898.  The  membership  of  Terre  Haute  dates  from  1900, 
while  Syracuse  and  Cincinnati  were  added  in  1901.  In 
1902  the  New  York  Trotting  Association  purchased  Glens 
Falls'  place,  and  gave  its  first  Grand  Circuit  meeting  at 
Brighton  Beach.  The  accompanying  table  gives  the 
members  of  the  Grand  Circuit  each  season  since  1873  to 
the  close  of  1902,  the  amount  of  premiums  paid  by  each 
of  them  each  year,  the  total  amount  given  by  them  at 
meetings  in  membership,  and  the  total  amount  paid  by 
the  members  of  the  Circuit  each  year.  In  the  thirty  years 
there  have  been  two  hundred  and  nineteen  Grand  Cir- 
cuit meetings  at  which  $5,625,819  were  paid  in  premiums. 
This  is  a  large  sum  of  money,  but  as  an  evidence  that  it 
is  only  a  big  drop  in  the  bucket  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
the  Kentucky  Trotting  Horse  Breeders'  Association, 
which  was  established  in  1873,  the  year  the  Quadrilateral 
started,  has  paid  horse  owners  $1,164,620,  over  one-fifth 
of  the  amount  distributed  by  the  entire  Grand  Circuit. 
This  is  but  one  of  the  hundreds  of  trotting  associations 
scattered  all  over  North  America,  all  of  which  are  con- 
tributing in  some  instances  thousands,  and  in  others 
hundreds,  for  harness  racing.  The  returns  show  that  the 
associations  in  membership  with  the  National  and  Ameri- 
can Trotting  Associations  in  1901  paid  $1,935,122. 
When  the  premiums  paid  by  associations  which 
were  not  in  membership  are  added  to  that  amount, 
the  total  exceeds  $2,000,000.  The  premiums  at 
Cleveland's  Grand  Circuit  meetings  amount  to 
$767,300,  at  Buffalo  to  $760,140,  or  if  the  meetings 
which  it  gave  on  the  regular  dates,  but  not  in  the  Circuit, 
are  added,  $860,340,  at  Hartford  to  $718,939,  at  Rochester 
to  $450,925,  and  at  Springfield  to  $357,525.  Detroit  has 
paid  out  $464,600  at  eleven  Grand  Circuit  meetings,  and 


THE  GRA 


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1873 

30,000 

69,000 

38,000 

32,300 

1874 

35,500 

52,000 

31,000 

45,900 

1875 

35,000 

31,000 

32,000 

33,500 

33,500 

34,000 

1876 

25,000 

22,800 

23,000 

23,000 

22,550 

21,550 

21,875 

1877 

18,500 

22,500 

20,000 

21,250 

20,725 

17,300 

20,400 

1878 

14,500 

14,000 

13,500 

13,500 

14,400 

1879 

17,000 

16,125 

16,000 

16,000 

1880 

15,500 

16,000 

14,825 

18,000 

19,350 

1881 

17,500 

18,400 

14,700 

7,400 

21,500 

17,400 

19,850 

1882 

17,500 

20,000 

14,850 

17,000 

14,750 

21,750 

12,500 

1883 

23,500 

23,900 

14,800 

14,400 

20,000 

22,500 

21,200 

1884 

14,200 

19,750 

13,750 

10,000 

13,500 

14,750 

12,000 

11,150 

12,000 

1885 

16,000 

12,500 

12,700 

22,500 

8,640 

11,000 

1886 

18,500 

10,900 

13,650 

9,700 

14,750 

23,000 

14,500 

18,21 

1887 

22,000 

20,000 

13,125 

12,800 

18,750 

23,350 

11,500 

1888 

23,500 

23,600 

14,300 

22,650 

32,000 

28,990 

19,000 

9,750 

1889 

21,500 

37,500 

24,350 

28,800 

21,650 

37,000 

23,250 

5,600 

1890 

20,000 

22,300 

22,350 

28,850 

11,000 

31,700 

4,500 

11,800 

1891 

25,500 

28,500 

19,600 

30,000 

32,500 

15,500 

1892 

23,000 

31,000 

12,000 

15,000 

27,000 

17,700 

1893 

27,000 

85,000 

19,000 

27,000 

60,000 

28,000 

42,5( 

1894 

33,000 

71,500 

33,000 

11,500 

55,774 

33,850 

58,a: 

1895 

35,000 

13,800 

40,000 

38,3( 

1896 

32,500 

29,000 

49,2: 

1897 

33,500 

40,600 

24,250 

48,2( 

1898 

31,000 

22,850 

36,500 

43,5( 

1899 

37,500 

21,500 

53,200 

49,875 

37,300 

44,3( 

1900 

33,200 

24,300 

39,300 

30,700 

25,000 

40,(K 

1901 

36,500 

24,600 

46,700 

42,000 

47,2: 

1902 

34,400 

27,240 

52,400 
718,939 

45,850 

34,81 

Total, 

767,300 

760,140 

I 

272.800 

357525 

450  325 

131,750 

314425 

i 

117  350 

191,140 

I 

64,350 

464,6( 

The  above  table  presents  the  names  of  all  the  cities  at  which  Grand  Circuit  meetii 
the  close  of  1902,  the  amount  of  premiums  (in  dollars)  paid  by  each  association  each  year, 
members  of  the  Circuit  each  year  and  the  total  paid  out  in  premiums  from  1873  to  the  clos 


3  CIRCUIT. 


0> 

■o  CO 

a. 


9,900 
8,000 
3,400 
0,000 
6,6-50 


0) 
CO 

c/o 


2 

E 

2 

o 
o 


CD 

e 
>* 
cs 

5 


.  .<£ 

II 

■o  cs 

c 


CO 

c  cs 

C5 


12,800 

19,000 

8,200 


24,800 
29,000 
28,000 
32,000 
29,000 
35,000 
33,725 


18,300 
23,200 
32,500 


13,600 


CD 


> 

•a 
cs 

03 

cc 


CO 


o 

Q. 


19,000 
21,500 
21,000 
15,000 
14,500 


K  17.950  40.000  211.525 


74.000 


13.600 


26,000 
38,000 
53,000 
43,500 
48,500 
55,500 


CO 


a> 


<u 
c/> 


o 
CS 


C/> 


26,000 


cs 

c 

e 

'o 

c 

b 


o 
o 


03 


18,000 

33,850 

8,000 


91.000  284.500   26  000   59,850 


14,800 
24,200 


39  000 


43,350 
26,300 


57,500 


69650  57,500 


CS 

o 


S   169,300 

163,400 

199.000 

159775 

140,675 

69,900 

65,125 

83,675 

116,750 

118,350 

140.300 

121. 100 

83,340 

123.200 

121,525 

173790 

199650 

162,400 

169,600 

139,100 

298,500 

326429 

146,100 

175,620 

243750 

279850 

349,675 

298.000 

387,025 

399,915 

$5,625,819 


if 


have  been  held  since  the  Quadrilateral  Trotting  Combination  was  organized  in  1873  up  to 
tj  total  amount  paid  in  premiums  while  in  membership,  the  amount  paid  in  premiums  by  the 
bJ'1902. 


GRAND    CIRCUIT.  23 

$172,175  at  six  that  were  not  in  line,  making  a  total  of 
$636,775  in  seventeen  years.  At  its  six  Grand  Circuit 
meetings  the  New  England  Trotting  Horse  Breeders'  As- 
sociation has  paid  out  $264,500,  an  average  of  over 
$44,000  for  each  meeting,  while  the  first  mile  below  two 
minutes  in  harness  was  paced  over  its  track  when  Star 
Pointer  placed  the  world's  record  at  1  '-5934  •  Rarus 
2:1354*  St.  Julien  2:11%,  Maud  S.  2:08^4,  and  Cresceus 
2  :o2^4  also  made  their  records  at  Grand  Circuit  meetings. 
"To  this  I  also  wish  to  add  that  every  member  of 
the  Grand  Circuit,  with  but  one  exception,  has  paid  its 
premiums  during  the  week  of  the  meeting,  and  I  am 
pleased  to  state  that  the  one  that  failed  to  meet  its  obli- 
gations on  the  day  they  became  due  subsequently  paid 
every  dollar  through  The  National  Trotting  Association, 
with  which  I  have  been  identified  since  it  was  organized 
in  1870  and  without  which  there  would  have  been  no 
Grand  Circuit  or  other  means  of  enforcing  discipline  and 
holding  owners,  nominators  and  drivers  to  their  engage- 
ments. The  continued  growth  of  the  Grand  Circuit  has 
been  a  source  of  pleasure  to  me,  but  the  pride  that  I  take 
in  it  is  not  as  great  as  I  always  have  in  the  work  that  I 
have  done  and  am  still  doing  for  The  National  Trotting 
Association.  I  was  one  of  the  three  delegates  sent  by  the 
Springfield  Club  to  New  York  when  'The  National  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Promotion  of  the  Interests  of  the  American 
Trotting  Turf  was  organized  at  a  congress  held  at  the 
Everett  House,  February  2  to  4,  1870.  Amasa  Sprague, 
who  died  at  Cowesett,  R.  I.,  August  4,  1902,  was  the  first 
president.  In  1874,  the  year  that  the  office  of  the  Asso- 
ciation was  removed  from  Providence  to  Hartford,  I  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Appeals,  and,  in  1876, 
treasurer.     As  *vou  know,  I  am  still  in  the  harness." 

«J>»      •■I-*      *■!•*      vL*      -X* 
*T*       *y*       *T»       *■£••       *f* 


24  MEMOIR. 

In  September,  1871,  five  days'  racing  was  given  in  con- 
nection with  the  Northern  Ohio  Fair.  It  opened  with  a 
stallion  race  which  was  won  by  Pilot  Temple  in  straight 
heats,  the  fastest  being  trotted  in  2  :28,  and  it  was  the 
fastest  heat  at  that  gait  during  the  meeting.  Pilot  Tem- 
ple also  started  in  the  free-for-all  and  won  it  after  a  five- 
heat  contest  with  Byron,  Mat  Smith  and  Queen  of  the 
West.  Of  the  gentlemen  who  presided  in  the  judges' 
stand  at  this  meeting,  William  Edwards,  W.  J.  McKinnie, 
J.  W.  Fitch  and  R.  S.  Strader  became  well  known  to  the 
admirers  of  harness  racing. 

In  1872  the  Cleveland  club  changed  the  date  of  its 
summer  meeting  to  July  17  to  20.  It  also  followed  Buf- 
falo's lead  and  made  its  purses  large  enough  to  attract 
the  best  trotters  in  training.  The  result  was  that  the 
average  rate  of  speed  for  the  four  days'  racing  dropoed 
below  2 130,  while  in  the  free-for-all  Goldsmith  Maid 
trotted  three  heats  below  2  :20,  when  she  defeated  Ameri- 
can Girl  and  Lucy,  her  time  being  2  119,  2:18,  2  :io,.  Dan 
Voorhees  was  also  again  to  the  front  in  the  only  pacing 
race  on  the  card  in  2  122,  2  :2i^J,  2  122,  Bay  Harry  driving 
him  out  in  each  heat.  Thomas  L.  Young,  Rosalind,  Flora 
Belle  and  Derby  won  races  during  the  week,  the  last 
named  defeating  Mohawk,  Jr.,  Harry  Harley  and  Elmo 
in  a  $3,000  purse  race  for  the  2  125  class.  On  the  last  day 
of  the  meeting  C.  G.  Dempsey  started  the  four-year-old 
colt  Bigaroon,  by  imported  Bonnie  Scotland,  out  of  Laura 
Bruce,  by  Star  Davis,  in  a  race  at  mile  and  a  half  heats 
and  won  in  2  48 >4,  2  49^,  Christopher  Edick  getting  the 
place  with  Nellie  Bush,  by  Revolver.  Dempsey  also  won 
again  with  Bigaroon  in  the  fall  at  the  fair,  Edick  being 
second  again,  his  starter  on  that  occasion  being  Sallie 
Newton,  by  John  Morgan.     The  premiums' for  the  trotters 


l8j3    MEETING.  25 

at  the  July  meeting  amounted  to  $18,400,  while  the  run- 
ners were  awarded  $1,300  and  the  pacers  $500.  The  rac- 
ing at  the  fair  in  1872  was  of  a  very  ordinary  character 
even  at  that  period,  all  of  the  harness  races  being  won  in 
straight  heats  with  the  exception  of  the  2  150  class,  while 
Kilburn  Jim's  mile  in  2  129^4  was  the  fastest  entered  in 
the  record.  In  August  of  the  same  year  Annie  Watson 
and  Belle  Patterson  trotted  a  $10,000  match  race  over  the 
Cleveland    track,    Annie    Watson    winning    in    2:36^, 

2:3524,  2'Z7Y2- 

When  the  Cleveland  Club  made  its  announcement  in 
1873  it  was  a  member  of  the  Quadrilateral  Trotting  Com- 
bination, the  other  links  in  the  chain  being  Buffalo,  Utica 
and  Springfield.  As  stated  above,  John  Tod,  E.  A.  Buck, 
E.  Z.  Wright  and  L.  J.  Powers  were  the  first  Stewards, 
while  Sam  Briggs,  the  new  Secretary  of  the  Cleveland 
Club,  also  acted  as  Secretary  of  the  Quadrilateral.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  what  W.  B.  Fasig,  when  he  was 
placing  the  advertising  in  1889,  designated  as  ''The 
Grand  Old  Circuit."  The  name  "Ouadrilateral  Trotting 
Combination"  was  retained  for  two  years.  In  1875  it  was 
called  The  Central  Trotting  Circuit.  The  following  year 
the  name  was  changed  to  the  Grand  Central  Trotting  Cir- 
cuit, which  was  retained  until  1887,  when  it  became 
known  as  The  Grand  Circuit.  Of  the  original  members 
in  1873,  Cleveland  alone  remains.  The  old  Buffalo  Park 
is  still  used  as  a  training  ground,  but  the  fences  are  down 
and  it  is  liable  to  be  cut  up  into  building  lots  at  any  time. 
Utica  dropped  out  in  1889,  the  grounds  being  sold  for 
building  purposes,  while  Springfield  held  its  last  meeting 
as  a  member  of  the  Grand  Circuit  in  1893.  The  old  sand 
track  by  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut  River  is  still  used  as 
a  training  ground,  but  there  will  never  be  another  Grand 


26  MEMOIR. 

Circuit  meeting  at  Hampden  Park.  It  was  inaugurated 
in  1857  with  an  address  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
and  closed  by  the  wave  of  reform  in  1894. 

In  1873  Cleveland  also  selected  the  last  week  in  July 
for  its  summer  meeting.  It  still  retains  it,  "Cleveland 
Week"  being  the  point  from  which  the  other  members 
adjust  their  dates.  The  premiums  for  this  meeting 
amounted  to  $30,000,  of  which  $28,500  was  awarded  the 
trotters.  Of  the  eight  harness  races  on  the  programme 
John  E.  Turner  won  two  with  the  Hambletonian  mare 
Nettie,  one  of  them  being  a  $5,000  event,  in  which  the 
fastest  heat  was  finished  in  2  '.2^/2 .  Clementine  also  won 
two  races  ^t  Cleveland  that  year,  the  Judges  requesting 
Budd  Doble  to  drive  her  in  the  last  two  heats  of  the  first 
one.  The  other  winners  that  week  were  Mambrino  Gift, 
Judge  Fullerton,  Castle  Boy  and  Lucy.  The  daughter  of 
George  M.  Patchen  won  the  free-for-all,  the  other  starters 
being  American  Girl  and  Goldsmith  Maid.  The  race  was 
for  $6,000  and  in  the  betting  the  "Maid"  was  a  favorite  at 
a  $100  to  $10.  In  the  first  heat  American  Girl  and  Gold- 
smith Maid  took  the  word  on  even  terms.  When  they 
reached  the  turn  the  favorite  stopped  and  the  field  went 
on  without  her,  Lucy  winning  the  heat  by  a  neck  in 
2:2134.  Goldsmith  Maid  was  distanced.  When  Doble 
returned  to  the  stand  he  told  the  Judges  that  Goldsmith 
Maid  caught  a  hind  foot  in  a  quarter  boot  and  was 
shocked  to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  impossible  for  her 
to  continue.  In  the  running  races  Port  Leonard  defeated 
Nellie  Bush  and  half  a  dozen  others  at  mile  heats,  while 
the  four-year-old  mare  Flush,  after  running  second  to 
Mary  L.  by  Voucher,  in  a  three  in  five  mile  heat  race, 
came  out  on  the  following  day  and  won  over  a  field  of 
seven  at  two-mile  heats  in   3:47^,  3:46.     She  was  by 


1874   MEETING.  '21 

Hiawatha  out  of  Fannie  Berg  by  Ambassador.  In  this 
race  Port  Leonard  finished  second  and  Nellie  Bush  third. 
Nellie  Bush  also  won  a  first  and  a  second  at  the  Northern 
Ohio  Fair  in  1873,  Regent  defeating  her  in  a  heat  race  at 
a  mile.  Of  the  harness  races  at  this  meeting  Sir  George, 
Ohio  Boy  and  Tom  Britton  each  had  two  first  moneys 
awarded  them,  the  fastest  heat  in  the  six  races  being  made 
by  Ohio  Boy  in  the  first  heat  of  the  2  124  class  when  he 
defeated  Harry  Mitchell  and  Derby.  The  only  other  win- 
ner to  harness  at  this  meeting  was  the  brown  horse  Little 
Mack,  driven  by  W.  H.  Boyce,  Chestnut  Dick  being  sec- 
ond to  him  in  the  2  133  class  in  2  :33^,  2  134,  2  135. 

For  its  meeting  in  1874  the  Cleveland  Club  gave  $33,- 
000  for  nine  harness  races  and  $2,500  for  three  running 
events.  The  first  race  was  a  $5,000  purse  for  2  124  trot- 
ters. Seven  horses  started,  Bodine  winning  the  first  heat 
in  2:2234.  On  the  next  trip  Lula  was  a  length  in  front 
of  the  Volunteer  gelding  at  the  finish  in  2:20^.  She 
then  went  on  and  won,  trotting  the  first  half  of  the  decid- 
ing heat  in  1  1093/2.  This  race  was  a  surprise  party,  but  it 
was  nothing  to  what  followed  when  Cozette  defeated 
Lucille  Golddust,  or  when  Mambrino  Gift  went  down  be- 
fore Fred  Hooper.  The  climax  of  the  week,  however, 
was  reached  in  the  $6,000  race  for  the  2  :20  class  on  the 
last  day.  Red  Cloud,  the  Indiana  horse,  was  the  favorite 
over  the  field  with  Camors  second  choice  and  Gloster 
third.  As  soon  as  the  word  was  given  Doble  took  Gloster 
to  the  front  and  led  to  the  quarter  pole.  As  the  field 
straightened  out  in  the  back  stretch  both  St.  James  and 
Red  Cloud  passed  him,  the  latter  being  in  front  at  the 
half  in  1  :o8^.  After  passing  this  point  the  giant  trotter 
of  the  Volunteer  family  closed  with  the  leaders  and  forced 
Red  Cloud  to  trot  the  third  quarter  in  34  seconds.     The 


28  MEMOIR. 

pair  were  on  even  terms  as  they  swung-  into  the  stretch,  but 
before  the  distance  was  reached  Red  Cloud  gave  it  up  and 
Gloster  won  the  heat  by  three  open  lengths  in  2:20^2. 
Camors  made  a  break  after  getting  the  word  and  was  dis- 
tanced. Gazelle  was  also  distanced  while  Sensation  was 
third,  St.  James  fourth,  and  Nettie  fifth.  In  the  second 
heat  Red  Cloud  slipped  by  Gloster  on  the  turn  and  took 
the  pole.  When  the  half  was  passed  in  1  109  Gloster  was 
on  even  terms  with  him  and  had  half  a  length  the  best  of 
it  until  within  two  or  three  strides  of  the  wire,  when  he 
made  a  mistake  and  Red  Cloud  won  in  2  :2c  When  the 
word  was  given  for  the  third  heat  Nettie  dropped  into  the 
pole  behind  Red  Cloud  and  remained  there  until  the  half 
was  passed  in  1  109^4 .  In  the  third  quarter  Turner 
moved  up  to  second  place,  challenged  Gloster  in  the 
stretch  and  was  a  neck  in  front  at  the  wire  in  2:21*4. 
Red  Cloud  finished  fourth,  dead  tired.  The  fourth  and 
fifth  heats  were  only  play  for  Nettie,  Gloster  breaking  in 
the  stretch  in  each,  while  Sensation  had  not  enough  speed 
to  be  dangerous.  There  was  no  heat  betting  in  those 
days.  The  other  winners  at  the  meeting  were 
Monarch,  Jr.,  James  Howell,  Jr.,  Nashville  Girl,  who  af- 
terwards became  prominent  as  May  Queen,  and  is  now 
remembered  as  the  grandam  of  Bingen,  Kansas  Chief 
and  Goldsmith  Maid.  Doble  won  the  free-for-all  with 
Goldsmith  Maid.  In  the  first  heat  of  it,  American  Girl 
carried  her  to  the  half  in  1  \oj,  but  died  away  in  the 
stretch,  second  place  going  to  Judge  Fullerton.  The  run- 
ning races  were  won  by  Spendthrift,  Lady  Washington 
and  Jack  Frost.  Spendthrift  ran  the  second  heat  of  his 
race  in  1  14334,  while  Jack  Frost  won  at  two  miles  in 
3:33/^-  The  pacing  record  of  the  track  was  reduced  to 
2  :2oJ4    at    the    September    meeting    in    1874  by  Sleepy 


1875    MEETING.  29 

George,  when  he  defeated  John  McXair,  Defiance,  Sorrel 
Frank  and  Velocipede,  while  Xellie  Bush  was  again  re- 
turned as  a  winner  in  a  mile-heat  race.  The  trotting 
races  at  the  meeting  also  showed  a  decided  improvement, 
all  of  them  being  well  contested,  although  the  time  was 
slow,  2  129  being  the  fastest  heat  that  week.  The  winners 
were  Harry  Mitchell,  Jeremiah,  Mexican  Boy,  and  Kate 
Campbell.  Belle  Brasfield,  Ohio  Boy,  Tom  Britton  and 
Magnolia  were  numbered  among  those  who  "also  ran." 

In  1875,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Cleveland  Club, 
George  A.  Baker  was  elected  President ;  George  H.  Burt, 
Vice  President;  S.  T.  Everett,  Treasurer,  and  Sam 
Briggs,  Secretary.  These  gentlemen  presented  a  $35,000 
programme  for  the  summer  meeting,  $33,500  of  that 
amount  being  offered  for  seven  trotting  races,  and  the 
balance  for  two  running  events.  \\  nen  the  entries  closed 
it  was  found  that  there  was  a  decided  falling  off,  there 
being  but  fifty-one  trotters  started  against  sixty-four  in 
1874.  That  they  were  evenly  matched  was  evidenced  by 
the  fact  that  forty-four  heats  were  required  to  find  the 
winners  in  the  nine  races,  the  only  straight  heat  events 
being  the  free-for-all,  in  which  Goldsmith  Maid  defeated 
Lula  and  American  Girl  in  2:1834,  2:1934,  2:19^  and 
the  2:18  class,  in  which  Judge  Fullerton  played  with 
Lady  Maud  and  Nettie.  Judge  Fullerton  made  his  record 
of  2:18  in  this  race,  and  in  doing  so  equalled  the  track 
record  which  had  stood  to  the  credit  of  Goldsmith  Maid 
for  three  years.  Duke,  Grafton  and  York  State  won  five 
heat  races,  Clementine  and  Rarus  were  awarded  first  pre- 
miums after  each  had  trotted  six  heats,  and  seven  heats 
were  required  in  the  2:31  class  before  Lewinski  received 
the  big  end  of  the  purse.  The  2  :22  class  was  the  feature 
at  this    meeting.     The  starters  were    Thomas  L.  Young, 


30  MEMOIR. 

Bella,  Cosette,  Lucille  Golddust  and  Grafton.  It  was 
programmed  for  Thursday.  Two  days  before  the  race 
Gus  Glidden  drove  Grafton  a  mile  in  2  :i5/4-  This  made 
the  big  chestnut  gelding  such  a  prohibitive  favorite  that 
he  was  barred  in  many  of  the  pools,  although  it  was  well 
known  that  he  was  apt  to  make  a  break  every  time  he 
came  to  a  turn.  Cosette  won  the  first  heat  in  2  123,  by 
half  a  length  from  Lucille  Golddust,  Grafton  broke  on 
the  first  and  third  turns,  but  managed  to  finish  third,  Glid- 
den driving  him  the  last  quarter  in  31^4  seconds.  In  the 
second  heat  Grafton  was  again  on  his  bad  behavior,  while 
Lucille  Golddust  won  the  heat  in  2  ■.2^/2,  with  Bella  sec- 
ond and  Thomas  L.  Young  third.  In  the  third  heat  Graf- 
ton made  two  breaks  and  looked  to  be  out  of  it  at  the 
three-quarter  pole.  Glidden  caught  him  and  started  after 
the  leaders.  It  was  then  ''See  Grafton  come."  Lucille 
Golddust  was  in  front  and  appeared  to  have  everything 
her  own  way  until  Glidden  caught  her  at  the  distance, 
carried  her  to  a  break  and  won  the  heat  in  2:24.34,  his 
time  for  the  last  half  with  a  break  in  it  being  1  :oyy2. 
When  saluting  the  Judges  before  dismounting  Green  ap- 
proached the  stand  and  said  that  he  "protested  trotting 
against  a  telegraph."  The  finest  part  of  the  contest  was 
in  the  fourth  heat.  While  scoring  Cosette  locked  wheels 
with  Bella  and  threw  Dave  Muckle  out.  Bella  started  to 
run,  but  stopped  after  passing  the  stand.  Then  some  one 
in  the  crowd  gave  the  word  on  the  tenth  score  and  as  the 
starter  did  not  ring  the  bell  until  the  horses  passed  the 
turn,  all  of  them  went  on  until  they  were  stopped  near 
the  distance  by  the  flagman.  The  trip  put  a  crimp  in 
Cosette  and  Lucille  Golddust  while  it  steadied  Grafton. 
When  the  word  was  given  Lucille  Golddust  and  Grafton 
came  together  on  the  turn,  the  latter  losing  a  few  spokes 


WILLIAM     EDWARDS.  31 

in  the  flurry.  Lucille  Golddust  was  on  a  break  when  the 
sulkies  clashed,  and  when  Grafton  broke  Glidden  let  him 
run  until  he  passed  the  quarter  pole.  As  soon  as  he  set- 
tled Grafton  went  to  the  front  and  won  the  heat  in  a  jog 
in  2:25^4.  Both  drivers  claimed  a  foul  and  each  had  his 
supporters  in  the  crowd  that  surged  around  the  Judges' 
stand.  When  the  turmoil  had  subsided  and  Colonel  Ed- 
wards had  separated  the  pugnacious  drivers,  the  Judges 
decided  that  no  one  was  at  fault  and  placed  the  horses  as 
they  finished.  In  the  sixth  heat  Grafton,  after  making 
two  disastrous  breaks,  jogged  in  a  winner  in  2  126,  Lucille 
Golddust  and  Cosette  finishing  almost  on  even  terms, 
with  Bella  fourth.  In  the  running  races  John  Forbes  won 
at  mile  heats  with  Vicksburg,  a  three-year-old  by  Vandal 
out  of  Blond,  the  first  mile  being  run  in  1  142^,  and  two 
days  later  finished  second  to  War  Jig,  by  War  Dance,  at 
two  miles  in  3  :2>4H-  War  Jig  also  won  again  at  Cleve- 
land at  the  September  meeting,  in  a  regulation  three-in- 
five  race  at  mile  heats,  after  a  five-heat  struggle  with  the 
Canadian  mare  Inspiration,  by  imported  Warminster,  out 
of  Sophia,  by  Bonnie  Scotland.  The  perennial  Nellie 
Bush  was  also  a  starter  in  the  race.  She  was  distanced 
in  the  first  heat  for  a  foul.  Judge  Waite  and  Frank  were 
both  double  event  winners  at  the  fair  in  1875,  the  other 
successful  starters  being  Lewinski,  Gussie,  and  Nelson. 

When  the  Cleveland  Club  was  organized  in  1871, 
William  Edwards  took  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs. 
He  toiled  in  and  out  of  season  to  make  its  meetings  popu- 
lar, not  only  with  the  horse  owners,  but  also  with  the 
public,  and  in  time  he  succeeded  in  making  the  Cleveland 
Grand  Circuit  meeting  a  society  event.  His  name,  how- 
ever, never  appeared  in  the  list  of  officers  until  1876, 
when  he  succeeded  George  A.   Baker  as  President  and 


32  MEMOIR. 

John  Tod  as  Cleveland's  representative  on  the 
Board  of  Stewards  of  the  Grand  Central  Trotting 
Circuit,  his  associates  in  that  body  being  M.  P. 
Bush,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  George  J.  Whitney,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. ;  M.  G.  Thompson,  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  Morgan  L. 
Mott,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  Alexander  Harbison,  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  and  L.  J.  Powers,  Springfield,  Mass.,  while 
Sam  Briggs,  the  Secretary  of  the  Cleveland  Club,  was 
still  the  Circuit  Secretarv.  At  this  time  Colonel  Edwards 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Central  District  Board  of  The 
National  Trotting  Association,  he  having  been  first 
chosen  as  member  of  the  Board  of  Appeals  in  1874. 

With  Colonel  Edwards  at  the  helm  Cleveland  began 
to  march  to  the  front  in  racing  affairs.  His  tact  and  en- 
thusiasm were  equal  to  every  emergency,  from  giving  a 
man  a  complimentary  ticket,  to  starting  a  free-for-all, 
while  his  popularity  at  home  and  reputation  as  a  true 
sportsman  abroad,  drew  hundreds  of  people  to  the  Cleve- 
land meetings  that  would  not  have  gone  there  with  any 
other  man,  no  matter  how  capable,  in  charge.  During 
race  week  his  summer  house  at  Cliff  Beach,  and  at  a  later 
date  his  house  on  Prospect  Street,  was  the  abiding  place 
of  his  friends,  for  as  Fasig  frequently  remarked,  "Colonel 
Edwards  lived  and  planned  fifty-one  weeks  in  the  hope  of 
making  the  race  week  of  each  year  more  enjoyable  than 
the  one  that  preceded  it."  Everyone  in  Cleveland  knew 
"Billy  Edwards."  He  had  a  kind  word  and  a  nod  for  all 
he  met,  from  the  switch-tender  on  the  corner  of  Water 
and  Superior  Street,  up  to  an  embryo  President  of  the 
United  States.  He  jogged  through  life  endowed  with 
that  happy  faculty  of  making  friends  and  retaining  them. 
He  had  his  faults,  so  have  we  all,  but  in  him  they  are  for- 
gotten and  forgiven,  as  he  loved  much  and  was  loved  in 
return. 


1876   MEETING.  33 

Favored  by  location  and  a  date  that  brings  its  summer 
meetings  at  a  time  when  the  horses  are  at  their  best,  the 
Cleveland  Association  in  1876  started  a  series  of  record 
breaking  meetings  which  have  never  been  surpassed,  if 
equalled.  For  some  reason  there  never  has  been  a  large 
meeting  at  other  points  either  in  the  east  or  the  west  on 
"Cleveland  Week,"  and  while  the  Cleveland  Club  or  its 
successor,  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company,  has 
never  been  in  favor  of  stakes  or  large  instalment  plan 
purses,  it  has  always  had  the  best  horses  in  training  and 
contests  which  each  year  add  a  few  more  names  to  the 
record-breaking  pages  of  light  harness  history.  For  the 
Centennial  year  meeting  the  Cleveland  Club  gave  the 
trotters  $24,000  for  nine  races  and  $1,000  for  two  run- 
ring  events.  The  racing  began  with  the  2  136  class,  which 
was  won  by  the  gray  mare  Mambrino  Kate,  her  first  heat 
in  2:31  being  the  slowest  trotted  during  the  week,  and 
closed  with  a  two-mile  dash  in  which  the  three-year-old 
colt  Waddel,  by  Jack  Malone,  defeated  War  Jig  and 
Vicksburg  in  3:45^.  In  the  days  that  intervened  Lula 
reduced  the  track  record  to  2  117^2,  in  a  trip  against  time, 
but  her  performance  was  forgotten  when  the  free-for-all 
was  reached.  The  following  description  of  that  great 
race  was  written  by  Hamilton  Busbey  for  the  Turf,  Field 
and  Farm,  and  published  in  its  issue  for  August  4,  1876: 

"When  the  bell  rang  for  the  open-to-all  horses  to-  ap- 
pear, a  buzz  of  expectation  was  heard  on  all  sides.  It  was 
known  that  Lula  would  not  respond  to  the  call,  she  hav- 
ing made  an  exhibition  the  previous  day,  besides  she  was 
not  in  the  bloom  of  condition ;  but  Lucille  Gokldust  was 
there  to  battle  for  the  Babylon  stable,  and  she  was  a  mare 
of  tried  speed  and  bottom.  The  knowledge  that  Lula 
would  not  start  steadied  the    quaking    nerves  of    Doble, 


34  MEMOIR. 

and  he  ceased  to  plead  for  a  special  purse  and  permission 
to  withdraw.  He  thought  that  Goldsmith  Maid  would 
have  a  comparatively  easy  time  in  capturing  first  money, 
and  his  confidence  made  the  old  mare  the  favorite  over 
the  field.  Smuggler  was  deemed  an  uncertain  horse,  and 
there  was  no  eagerness  to  invest  in  pools  on  him.  But 
the  stallion  was  cheered  almost  as  warmly  as  the  Maid, 
when  he  jogged  slowly  past  the  stand.  Lucille  Golddust, 
Judge  Fullerton  and  Bodine  were  also  received  with  ap- 
plause. The  great  drivers  of  the  country  were  behind  the 
great  horses  of  the  country.  Budd  Doble  pulled  the  lines 
over  Goldsmith  Maid ;  Charley  Green  steadied  Lucille 
Golddust ;  Peter  Johnson  controlled  Bodine ;  Charley 
Marvin  watched  over  the  fortunes  of  Smuggler,  and  Dan 
Mace  was  up  behind  Judge  Fullerton,  having  come  from 
New  York  for  the  express  purpose  of  driving  him  in  the 
race.  Twice  the  horses  came  for  the  word,  and  twice  they 
failed  to  get  it.  They  were  then  ordered  to  score  with 
Lucille  Golddust,  and  succeeded  in  getting  off.  The 
Maid  had  the  best  of  the  start,  and,  quickly  taking  the 
pole  from  Judge  Fullerton,  gaily  carried  herself  in  the 
lead.  It  was  where  she  was  accustomed  to  be,  and  so  she 
trotted  in  the  best  of  spirits.  Fullerton  did  not  act  well, 
and  he  brought  up  the  rear  rank  the  entire  length  of  the 
course.  Along  the  back-stretch  Smuggler  began  to  close 
a  gap,  terrific  as  the  pace  was.  After  passing  the  half- 
mile  he  drew  dangerously  near  the  Maid,  but  it  was  no- 
ticed that  he  faltered  a  little.  The  cause  was  not  then 
understood,  but  it  was  made  plain  when  the  patrol  judge 
galloped  up  to  the  stand  with  a  shoe  in  his  hand  which 
had  been  cast  from  the  near  fore  foot.  Around  the  turn 
the  stallion  pressed  after  the  mare,  and  down  the  stretch 
he  drove  her  at  the  top  of  her  speed,  the  thousands  giving 


GOLDSMITH    MAID    AND    .SMUGGLER.  35 

vent  to  their  enthusiasm  by  cheering  and  clapping  hands. 
Smuggler  had  his  nose  at  the  Maid's  tail  when  she  went 
under  the  wire  in  2:1514.  Bodine  was  a  good  third,  his 
time  being  about  2:17,  and  Lucille  Golddust  was  fourth, 
Fullerton  just  inside  the  flag.  Smuggler's  performance 
was  an  extraordinary  one.  He  trotted  for  something  like 
three-eighths  of  a  mile  with  his  equilibrium  destroyed  by 
the  sudden  withdrawal  from  an  extreme  lever  point  of  a 
shoe  weighing  25  ounces.  Only  once  before  had  he  cast 
a  shoe  in  rapid  work  without  breaking,  and  that  was  in 
his  exercise  at  Belmont  Park.  Keen  judges  are  forced  to 
admit  that  the  stallion  would  have  won  the  first  heat  in 
2:15  had  no  accident  befallen  him.  Prior  to  this  season 
Smuggler  carried  a  32-ounce  shoe  on  each  of  his  fore 
feet,  but  now  he  seems  to  be  steady  under  the  reduced 
weight.  The  scoring  in  the  second  heat  was  a  little  more 
troublesome  than  that  in  the  first  heat.  Smuggler  left  his 
feet  several  times,  and  it  looked  as  if  he  was  going  to  dis- 
appoint his  owner  and  trainer.  On  the  fourth  attempt  the 
horses  got  away,  the  Maid  in  the  lead.  The  stallion  made 
one  of  his  characteristic  bad  breaks  around  the  turn,  and 
all  hope  of  his  winning  the  heat  was  lost.  Bodine  and 
Fullerton  also  were  unsteady.  Lucille  Golddust  did  good 
work  and  she  was  second  to  the  Maid  when  the  latter 
went  over  the  score  in  2:17V;-  Smuggler  finished  fifth, 
Marvin  only  trying  to  save  his  distance.  Goldsmith  Maid 
was  distressed,  but  her  friends  were  confident  that  her 
speed  and  steadiness  would  carry  her  safely  through.  It 
was  almost  dollars  to  cents  that  she  would  win.  The 
word  was  given  to  a  good  send  off  in  the  third  heat.  The 
Maid  had  the  pole,  which  advantage  she  did  not  surrender 
although  she  went  into  the  air  around  the  turn.  She  was 
quickly  caught,  and  Doble  drove  her  carefully  along  the 


36  MEMOIR. 

back-stretch,  followed  by  Fullerton,  who  seemed  to  be 
content  with  the  position  of  body-guard  to  her  queenship. 
After  passing  the  half-mile  Marvin  urged  Smuggler  into 
a  quicker  pace,  and  the  stallion  was  observed  to  pass  Lu- 
cille Golddust,  then  Fullerton,  and  to  swing  into  the 
home-stretch  hard  on  the  Maid's  wheel.  Doble  used  all 
his  art  to  keep  his  mare  going,  but  Marvin  sat  behind  a 
locomotive  and  could  not  be  shaken  off.  The  stallion  got 
on  even  terms  with  the  Maid,  and  then  drew  ahead  of  her 
in  the  midst  of  the  most  tumultuous  applause,  beating  her 
under  the  wire  three-quarters  of  a  length.  The  scene 
which  followed  is  indescribable.  An  electrical  wave 
swept  over  the  vast  assembly,  and  men  swung  their  hats 
and  shouted  themselves  hoarse,  while  the  ladies  snapped 
fans  and  parasols  and  burst  their  kid  gloves  in  the  en- 
deavor to  get  rid  of  the  storm  of  emotion.  The  police 
vainly  tried  to  keep  the  quarter-stretch  clear.  The  multi- 
tude poured  through  the  gates  and  Smuggler  returned  to 
the  stand  through  a  narrow  lane  of  humanity  which 
closed  as  he  advanced.  Doble  was  ashy  pale,  and  the 
great  mare  which  had  scored  so  many  victories  stood  with 
trembling  flanks  and  head  down.  Her  attitude  seemed 
to  say,  "I  have  done  my  best,  but  am  forced  to  resign  the 
crown."  The  Judges  hung  out  the  time  2:16)4,  and  got 
no  further  in  the  announcement  than  that  Smuggler  had 
won  the  heat.  The  shouts  of  the  thousands  of  frenzied 
people  drowned  all  else.  During  the  intermission  the 
stallion  was  the  object  of  the  closest  scrutiny.  So  great 
was  the  press  that  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  breathing 
room.  He  appeared  fresh,  and  ate  eagerly  of  the  small 
bunch  of  hay  which  was  presented  to  him  by  his  trainer 
after  he  had  cooled  out.  It  was  manifest  that  the  fast 
work  had  not  destroyed  his  appetite.     The  betting  now 


GOLDSMITH    MAID    AND    SMUGGLER.  37 

changed.  It  was  seen  that  the  Maid  was  tired  and  her 
eager  backers  of  an  hour  ago  were  anxious  to  .hedge.  In 
the  second  score  of  the  fourth  heat,  the  Judges  observed 
that  Smuggler  was  on  his  stride,  although  behind,  and  so 
gave  the  word.  In  his  anxiety  to  secure  the  pole  Doble 
forced  Goldsmith  Maid  into  a  run,  and  as  Lucille  Gold- 
dust  quickly  followed  her,  the  stallion  found  his  progress 
barred  unless  he  pulled  out  and  around  them.  Marvin  de- 
cided to  trail,  and  he  kept  in  close  pursuit  of  the  two 
mares  even  after  he  had  rounded  into  the  home-stretch. 
Green  would  not  give  way  with  Lucille,  and  Doble  pulled 
the  Maid  back  just  far  enough  to  keep  Marvin  from  slip- 
ping through  with  the  stallion.  The  pocket  was  complete, 
and  thought  to  be  secure.  A  smile  of  triumph  lighted 
Doble's  face,  and  the  crowd  settled  sullenly  down  to  the 
belief  that  the  race  was  over.  Marvin  was  denounced  as 
a  fool  for  placing  himself  at  a  disadvantage,  and  imagina- 
tion pictured  just  beyond  the  wire  the  crown  of  Gold- 
smith Maid  with  new  laurel  woven  into  it.  But  look !  By 
the  ghosts  of  the  departed !  Marvin  has  determined  upon 
a  bold  experiment.  He  falls  back  and  to  the  right,  with 
the  intention  of  getting  out  around  the  pocket.  Too  late, 
too  late!  is  the  hoarse  whisper.  Why,  man,  you  have  but 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  which  to  straighten  your 
horse  and  head  the  Maid,  whose  burst  of  speed  has  been 
held  in  reserve  for  just  such  an  occasion  as  this!  Her 
gait  is  2  :i4.  and  you — well,  you  are  simply  mad  !  The  un- 
counted thousands  held  their  breath.  The  stallion  does 
not  leave  his  feet  although  pulled  to  a  forty-five  angle  to 
the  right,  and  the  moment  that  his  head  is  clear  and  the 
path  open,  he  dashes  forward  with  the  speed  of  the  stag- 
hound.  It  is  more  like  flying  than  trotting.  Doble  hur- 
ries his  mare  into  a  break,  but  he  cannot  stop  the  dark 


38  MEMOIR. 

shadow  which  flits  by  him.  Smuggler  goes  over  the 
score  a  winner  of  the  heat  by  a  neck,  and  the  roar  which 
comes  from  the  grand  stand  and  the  quarter-stretch  is 
simply  deafening.  As  Marvin  comes  back  with  Smug- 
gler to  weigh,  the  ovation  is  even  greater  than  that  which 
he  received  in  the  preceding  heat.  Nothing  like  the  burst 
of  speed  he  had  shown  had  ever  before  been  seen  on  the 
track,  and  it  may  be  that  it  will  never  be  seen  again. 
Marvin  had  two  reasons  for  going  into  the  pocket.  In 
the  first  place  he  thought  that  Green  would  pull  out  when 
the  pinch  came  and  let  him  through,  and  in  the  second 
place  he  erroneously  supposed  that  Doble  would  push  the 
Maid  down  the  stretch  and  leave  him  room  to  get  out  that 
way.  It  was  bad  judgment  to  get  into  the  pocket,  since 
had  the  Maid  won  the  heat,  the  race  would  have  been 
over;  but  it  must  be  admitted  that  Marvin  acted  not 
without  a  show  of  reason.  In  riding  at  the  gait  he  was 
riding,  a  man  does  not  have  any  extra  time  to  mature  his 
plans.  The  heat  was  literally  won  from  the  fire.  It  was 
only  the  weight  of  a  hair  which  turned  the  scales  from 
defeat  to  victory.  Doble  was  more  deeply  moved  by  the 
unexpected  result  of  the  heat  than  by  anything  else  which 
happened  in  the  race.  His  smile  of  triumph  was  turned 
in  one  brief  instant  to  an  expression  of  despair.  The  time 
of  the  heat  was  2  :i9%.  Smuggler  again  cooled  out  well, 
nibbling  eagerly  at  his  bunch  of  hay,  while  the  crowd 
massed  around  him.  The  Maid  was  more  tired  than  ever, 
while  Lucille  Golddust  showed  no  signs  of  distress. 
When  the  horses  responded  to  the  bell  for  the  fifth  heat 
it  was  evident  that  a  combination  had  been  formed 
against  Smuggler.  All  worked  against  him.  Lucille 
Golddust  and  Bodine  worried  him  by  repeated  scorings, 
and  when  thev  excited  him  into  a  break  and  he  grabbed 


SMUGGLER    WINS.  39 

the  unfortunate  shoe  from  the  near  fore  foot,  the  hope 
began  to  rise  that  the  star  of  the  stallion  had  set.  The 
shoe  was  put  on,  the  delay  giving  the  Maid  time  to  get 
her  second  wind,  when  the  scoring  again  commenced. 
Smuggler  was  repeatedly  forced  to  break,  and  for  the 
third  time  in  the  race  he  grabbed  off  the  near  fore  shoe. 
Misfortunes  seemed  to  be  gathering  thickly  around  him, 
and  the  partisans  of  the  Maid  wore  the  old  jaunty  air  of 
confidence.  Before  replacing  the  shoe,  Col.  Russell  had 
it  shortened  at  the  heel.  It  was  a  new  shoe,  and  one 
adopted  by  Marvin  against  the  judgment  of  Russell. 
The  shell  of  the  foot  was  badly  splintered  by  the  triple 
accident,  but  the  stallion  was  not  rendered  lame.  As  much 
as  an  hour  was  wasted  by  the  scoring  and  the  shoeing  of 
Smuggler,  which  brought  all  the  horses  to  the  post  look- 
ing fresh.  Smuggler  had  the  worst  of  it,  as  he  was  the 
only  one  which  had  not  enjoyed  an  unbroken  rest.  Finally 
the  word  was  given  for  the  fifth  heat.  Fullerton  went  to 
the  front  like  a  flash  of  light,  trotting  without  skip  to  the 
quarter  pole  in  33  seconds.  Smuggler  overhauled  him 
near  the  half-mile,  and  from  there  home  was  never 
headed.  The  Maid  worked  up  to  second  position  down 
the  home-stretch,  the  stallion  winning  the  heat  in  2\ijl/+, 
and  the  hardest-fought  race  ever  seen  in  the  world.  The 
evening  shadows  had  now  thickened,  and  as  the  great 
crowd  had  shouted  itself  weak  and  hoarse,  it  passed 
slowly  through  the  gate  and  drove  in  a  subdued  manner 
home. 

"It  was  a  race  which  will  live  long  in  memory,  one  to 
which  thousands  will  date  as  the  beginning  of  an  epoch 
in  their  lives.  Think  of  it.  A  first  heat  in  2:15^  and  a 
fifth  heat  in  2  :i7/4,  with  the  stallion  record  reduced  to 
2  11634  in  the  third  heat !    A  week  ago  no  one  would  have 


40  MEMOIR. 

believed  it.  Now  we  keep  asking  ourselves  in  a  dazed 
sort  of  way  if  what  we  saw  with  our  eyes  can  really  be 
true.  Smuggler  first  saw  the  light  within  the  limits  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  He  journeyed  West  obscure  and  looked 
upon  as  a  menial.  Today  his  fame  is  as  wide  as  the 
world,  and  he  wears  the  laurel  which  once  wreathed  the 
neck  of  Goldsmith  Maid.  Wonder  not  that  the  people  of 
Ohio  should  swell  with  pride  when  they  point  to  him  and 
his  history.  His  triumph  was  in  the  face  of  obstacles 
which  were  truly  formidable. 

'  'How  did  you  enjoy  yourself?'  queried  the  President 
from  the  Judges'  stand  after  the  tumult  had  subsided. 
The  lady,  one  of  Cleveland's  fairest  daughters,  well  ex- 
pressed the  general  feeling  in  her  answer  from  the  grand 
stand  :  T  am  so  glad  and  yet  so  sorry.'  Glad  that  she 
had  hailed  the  new  king  and  sorry  that  she  had  seen  the 
old  queen  lay  down  her  crown." 

Cleveland,  O.,  July  27,  1876. 

Purse  $4,000,  free-for-all-trotting. 

H.  S.    Russell's    b.  s.,    Smuggler    by 
Blanco  (Marvin)   2     5     1     1     1 

Budd  Doble's  b.  m.,  Goldsmith  Maid 
by  Alexander's Abdallah  (Doble)...    1     1     2    2    2 

C.  S.  Green's  b.  m.,   Lucille  Golddust 

by  Golddust  (Green) 42333 

W.  M.  Humphrey's  ch.  g.,  Judge  Ful- 

lerton  by  Edward  Everett  (Mace)..   53444 

H.    C.    Goodrich's    b.    g.,    Bodine    by 

Volunteer  (Johnson)   3     4     5     5     5 

TIME. 

Quarter.  Half.  Three-Quarters.  Mile. 

34%  1:07^  1:41^  2:15^ 

34*A  1:08  1:42  2:17% 

ZAl/z  1:08  1:42  2:i6>j: 

34lA  i:ogl/2  i:44^  2:19^ 

33  1:08  >£  1:43^  2:17^ 


OUTSIDERS    WIN.  41 

Smuggler's  victory  in  the  free-for-all  was  only  one  of 
the  bunch  of  surprises  sprung  on  the  betting  fraternity  at 
this  meeting,  and  it  is  remembered  to  this  day,  not  so 
much  on  account  of  the  downfall  of  the  favorite  as  from 
the  fact  that  the  fastest  trotters  in  the  world  were  strug- 
ling  for  supremacy,  while  Marvin  crowned  the  event  by 
his  spectacular  and  at  the  same  time  desperate  drive  in  the 
fourth  heat.  The  betting  book  for  the  week  shows  that 
General  Grant,  Sam  Purdy,  Albemarle  and  Lewinski 
were  overlooked  by  those  who  felt  disposed  to  have  a 
ticket  on  the  favorite.  Three  of  the  four  named  were 
in  the  field  even  when  several  of  their  competitors  were 
sold  out.  General  Grant  was  a  second  choice,  the  Ham- 
bletonian  mare  Mattie  being  the  favorite  in  the  race  in 
which  he  started.  General  Grant  was  a  handsome  chest- 
nut stallion  with  a  white  strip  in  his  face,  by  Wapsie.  He 
was  in  Peter  V.  Johnson's  stable  and  won  for  him  that 
season  not  only  at  Cleveland,  but  also  at  Chicago,  Buffalo, 
and  Rochester,  where  he  made  his  record  of  2  :2i  in  the 
deciding  heat  of  a  five-heat  contest,  pulled  up  lame  and 
was  retired.  General  Grant  won  at  Cleveland  in  2  123^, 
2:25^4,  2:25^4.  His  race  was  sandwiched  with  the  2\22 
class,  for  which  Cozette  was  the  favorite,  but  which  was 
won  by  Sam  Purdy  after  trotting  a  dead  heat  with  Badger 
Girl  in  2:23^.  The  2:32  class  was  the  biggest  upset  at 
the  meeting.  It  was  alternated  with  the  free-for-all. 
Nine  horses  started  in  it  with  Enfield  a  favorite,  while 
Proctor  and  Black  Frank  were  also  well  thought  of. 
When  the  word  was  given  it  was  found  that  Enfield  was 
a  "dead  one."  He  finished  behind  the  money,  while  Albe- 
marle, a  rusty  looking  gray  that  had  sold  for  $5  in 
$245,  marched  to  the  front  and  won  in  straight  heats,  the 
fastest  in  2  123.    In  the  2  -.26  class  the  owners  of  Lewinski 


42  MEMOIR. 

did  not  consider  that  he  had  a  chance,  but  after  six  heats, 
he  wore  down  the  field  and  won,  while  the  "pikers"  who 
bought  him  for  $5  in  $225,  were  all  smiles.  The  other 
winners  during  the  week  were  Little  Fred  and  May 
Queen,  the  last  named  defeating  Rarus  in  the  2  120  class 
in  2\26l/2,  2\2$y2,  2:2jy2.  Nutwood  was  one  of  the 
starters  at  the  Northern  Ohio  Fair  in  1876.  On  the  sec- 
ond day  of  the  meeting  he  took  the  word  in  the  2  40  class 
and  was  beaten  by  Dick  Harvey  after  winning  a  heat  in 
2  137.  Two  days  later  he  again  started  in  the  2  150  class 
and  won  a  five-heat  race  in  which  the  last  mile  was  fin- 
ished in  2  131,  it  having  been  carried  over  to  the  following 
day  on  account  of  darkness.  Silversides  also  started  in 
two  races  at  this  meeting.  On  the  opening  day  he  won 
the  2 124  class  in  straight  heats  from  John  B.,  Sleepy 
John  and  Lew  Scott,  and  on  the  fourth  he  was  distanced 
for  running  in  the  deciding  heat  of  the  free-for-all,  which 
was  won  by  John  B.,  with  Sleepy  John  second  and  Hylas 
third.  Kinsman  Boy  and  Belle  of  Fairfield  were  also 
winners  that  week,  while  after  a  two-day  bout  ''Cart" 
Wilson  pulled  off  the  pacing  race  with  John  Tod's  horse 
Sweetser.  The  other  starters  in  the  pace  were  Shaker 
Boy,  Velocipede  and  Sleepy  George,  the  last  named  being 
handicapped  to  a  wagon.  Sleepy  George  won  the  first 
heat  in  2:26  and  Sweetser  the  next  two  in  2:24,  2:23^. 
Prior  to  the  fourth  heat  the  Judges  requested  John 
Forbes  to  drive  Sleepy  George,  and  he  won  it  in  2  :20,. 
The  race  was  then  postponed.  On  the  following  day 
Sweetser  marched  to  the  half  in  1  :o8x/2  and  when  he 
passed  the  judges  in  2:23^  Sleepy  George  was  beyond 
the  distance.  This  was  the  second  pacing  race  at  a  Cleve- 
land meeting  in  four  years,  but  from  the  early  eighties, 
and  especially  after  the  hoppled  horse  became  a  factor  on 


HOPPLES.  43 

the  turf,  there  has  been  a  change;'  the  synopsis  of  the 
Cleveland  meetings  published  with  this  memoir  showing 
that  since  1899  the  programme  has  been  divided  equally 
between  the  trotters  and  the  pacers.  At  the  small  meet- 
ings, and  especially  where  there  are  mixed  races,  the  hop- 
pled brigade  reigns  supreme  and  is  gradually  forcing  the 
trotters  off  the  turf  at  such  places.  As  the  half-mile  rings 
are  the  feeders  of  the  mile  tracks,  there  must  in  time  be  a 
decided  falling  off  in  the  number  of  entries  in  the  trotting 
classes,  as  the  owner  of  a  promising  young  horse  finds  but 
little  encouragement  in  paying  training  bills  and  entrance 
fees  in  races  where  he  has  to  contend  with  a  drove  of  hop- 
pled horses  that  in  the  majority  of  cases  would  not  sell 
under  the  hammer  for  as  much  as  the  sulky  they  are 
hitched  to.  Ninety  per  cent,  of  the  men  identified  with 
racing  are  opposed  to  hopples,  but  as  the  associations, 
with  but  very  few  exceptions,  want  all  of  the  entries  in 
sight,  their  use  has  been  permitted  until  they  have  become 
so  common  that  it  is  a  rare  thing  to  see  a  pacer  on  a  half- 
mile  track  without  them,  while  on  the  mile  tracks  even  the 
best  gaited  ones  that  are  liable  to  make  a  break  wear  the 
straps.  In  1898,  when  discussing  the  question,  William 
B.  Fasig  made  the  following  statements  in  reference  to 
them : 

"Hopples  are  the  bane  of  light  harness  racing.  They 
have  done  more  to  cheapen  horses,  to  say  nothing  about 
the  danger  of  them ;  have  brought  odium  on  the  sport, 
and  are,  from  every  point,  a  disgrace  to  the  trotting  turf. 
They  should  be  abolished.  But  it  would  seem  only  fair 
to  establish  a  date  after  which  they  would  not  be  allowed. 
We  have  been  breeding  to  establish  a  family  of  useful 
light  harness  horses,  and  racing  has  been  conducted  on  the 
theory  of  encouraging  that  end,  for  fifty  years.     Now,  if 


44  MEMOIR. 

we  must,  after  all  that  time,  tie  the  legs  of  our  horses  to- 
gether to  make  them  do  what  they  are  bred  to  do,  our 
efforts  are  a  failure.  Deliver  us  from  the  hoppled  horse." 
The  races  won  by  Scotland  and  Little  Gypsy  were  the 
features  at  the  Cleveland  meeting  in  1877.  The  Bonnie 
Scotland  gelding  was  one  of  twelve  that  started  in  the 
2  \2j  class.  He  was  the  favorite  and  won  after  two  days' 
racing  and  nine  heats.  The  other  heat  winners  were  Rose 
of  Washington,  Deception,  Damon,  King  Philip  and 
George.  Scotland  won  the  third,  fourth  and  ninth  heats, 
and  made  his  record. of  2  122^  in  the  fourth.  Little  Gypsy 
made  her  appearance  in  the  2  125  class.  She  was  named  to 
start  against  Belle  Brasfield,  Banquo,  Captain  Jack,  Alley, 
Richard,  Lew  Scott,  Adele  Clark,  The  Jewess  and  Lew- 
inski,  and  in  the  over-night  betting  sold  for  $16  in  $500. 
The  race  was  trotted  in  a  drizzling  rain  over  a  slippery 
track.  Little  Gypsy,  driven  by  W.  H.  Crawford,  won  the 
first  heat  by  a  neck  from  Banquo  in  2:26^4-  Splan  was 
up  behind  her  on  the  next  trip,  which  went  to  Banquo 
in  2:2234.  The  same  pair  were  only  heads  apart  at  the 
finish  of  the  third  heat,  Little  Gypsy  winning  in  2:23^. 
When  the  word  was  given  for  the  fourth  heat  Banquo 
was  on  a  break.  That  put  him  out  of  it.  Captain  Jack 
took  up  the  fight,  and  while  he  forced  Little  Gypsy  to  trot 
to  her  record,  2  \22,  she  had  her  head  and  neck  in  front 
of  him  at  the  wire.  Of  the  other  events  at  the  meeting, 
which  was  hampered  by  a  railroad  strike,  Mazo  Manie, 
Hannis,  Jennie  Holton,  Slow  Go,  Rarus,  Nettie  and 
Sweetser  were  returned  as  winners,  Rarus  defeating  Lu- 
cille Golddust,  Cozette  and  Albemarle  in  2:1854.  2:18, 
2:18^4,  and  Sweetser  finishing  in  front  of  Rowdy  Boy, 
Sleepy  George,  who  was  again  handicapped  to  a  wagon, 
Lucy,  T.  A.  Hendricks,  Sorrel  Billv,  Bav  Sallie  and  Tohn 


1878    MEETING.  45 

McNair  in  2  :i8,  2  1193/2,  2  'aol/2.  This  race  was  paced  in 
the  rain,  being  sandwiched  with  the  2  125  class.  The  fair 
in  1877  was  held  in  October,  and  as  the  premiums  for  rac- 
ing were  more  than  doubled,  the  entry  list  presented  the 
names  of  the  highest  class  lot  of  horses  that  had  ever 
taken  the  word  at  Cleveland  in  the  fall.  Aside  from  a 
2  45  class  which  proved  nothing  more  than  a  workout 
for  Cottage  Girl,  one  heat  being  trotted  in  3  114,  the  time 
made  was  fast  and  all  of  the  events  closely  contested. 
Badger  Girl  set  the  ball  rolling  by  winning  a  seven-heat 
race,  defeating  Deception,  Lew  Scott  and  Little  Gypsy ; 
while  Sweetser  gave  the  Clevelanders  the  first  taste  of  a 
fast  pacing  race  by  disposing  of  Sleepy  George,  Lucy, 
Bay  Sallie  and  Straightedge  in  2:16,  2:16,  2:16%,  the 
fastest  time  made  by  him  in  a  race,  but  which  he  reduced 
to  2:15  in  a  trip  against  time  at  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  on 
Christmas  Day,  in  1878.  The  other  winners  during  the 
week  were  Calmar,  Shepherd  Boy,  Nancy  Hackett  and 
Rams.  Rams  defeated  Hopeful  to  harness  and  Great 
Eastern  to  saddle.  Great  Eastern  won  two  heats  in 
2  :i9^4,  2  \\y]/2,  the  half-mile  mark  in  the  second  mile  be- 
ing passed  in  1  :oyjA.  On  the  third  trip  Rams  went  on 
and  won  in  2:21^4,  2:21,  2:22. 

The  hard  times  which  began  in  1876  soon  made  itself 
felt  in  the  amount  of  premiums  offered  at  race  meetings. 
For  example,  at  Cleveland  in  1875  the  trotters  were 
awarded  $33,500.  In  1876  the  amount  dropped  to 
$25,000,  and  in  1877  to  $17,500,  with  an  additional  $1,000 
for  a  pacing  race.  At  its  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1878, 
the  Cleveland  Club  paid  the  trotters  $13,500  and  the 
pacers  $1,000,  while  the  public  clamored  for  a  fifty-cent 
gate.  Aside  from  Hopeful's  victory  in  the  free-for-all, 
and  the  three  miles  that  Rams  trotted  against  time,  there 


46  MEMOIR. 

was  nothing  of  a  sensational  character  on  the  card  for  the 
week.  The  meeting  opened  with  straight  heat  wins  for 
Dame  Trot  and  Dick  Swiveller,  and  on  the  second  day 
Lucille  and  Sleepy  George  won  their  events  with  six 
heats,  Sweetser  being  distanced  in  the  first  heat  of  the  pac- 
ing race,  while  the  2  124  trot  went  over  after  Edward  had 
won  a  heat  and  Edwin  Forrest  had  placed  two  to  his 
credit.  On  the  following  day  Edwin  Forrest  romped 
home  in  front  of  the  field  in  2:18^,  with  Trampoline 
second,  Woodford  Mambrino  third,  and  Edward  fourth. 
With  four  exceptions,  the  horses  that  started  in  this  race 
were  the  same  that  figured  in  the  disgraceful  affair  at 
Utica  a  few  weeks  later,  and  which  passed  into  turf 
history  as  the  "Edwin  Forrest  steal."  The  entries  for 
the  free-for-all  presented  the  names  of  Proteine,  Hopeful, 
Great  Eastern,  Nettie  and  Cozette.  As  the  gallant  gray 
was  supposed  to  have  seen  his  best  days,  Proteine  was  the 
choice,  with  Great  Eastern  as  a  saver.  Mace  had  Hope- 
ful cherry  ripe  and  won  off  the  reel.  In  the  first  heat  he 
caught  the  judge's  eye  half  a  length  in  front  of  Proteine, 
in  2:1734.  On  the  second  trip  Mace  stepped  Hopeful  to 
the  half  in  1  :o6%,  the  three  quarters  in  1  40^4,  and  won 
by  half  a  length  from  Proteine  in  2:15^.  The  deciding 
heat  was  a  procession  after  the  bunch  passed  the  quarter 
pole,  Hopeful  leading  all  the  way  in  ZVA,  I  :07>  :  :4:> 
2:15^/2,  the  gray  horse  finishing  like  a  runaway,  while 
Mace  was  waving  his  whip  as  he  looked  over  his  shoulder 
at  the  field  struggling  behind  him.  Scott's  Thomas  de- 
feated Indianapolis  in  the  2 :30  class,  which  was  sand- 
wiched with  the  free-for-all.  John  Splan  was  very  much 
in  evidence  on  the  last  day  of  the  meeting.  He  began  his 
afternoon's  work  by  finishing  second  to  Steve  Maxwell 
with  Woodford  Z.  in  the  2  :26  class,  and  followed  this 


RARUS  BREAKS  THE  RECORD.  47 

move  with  a  victory  in  the  2  :20  class  behind  Adelaide. 
This  was  one  of  the  best  betting  races,  and  also  one  of  the 
greatest  turn-overs,  ever  seen  at  Cleveland.  In  the  early 
betting  Adelaide  sold  as  low  as  $15  in  $500,  and  her 
owner,  Daniel  De  Noyelles,  had  almost  all  of  the  tickets. 
Adelaide  made  good  after  Prospero  won  a  heat  and  Mid- 
night had  placed  two  to  his  credit.  How  it  was  done  is 
another  matter,  but  at  this  late  date  it  will  be  charitable  to 
drop  the  curtain  on  the  whole  affair.  There  were  sinister 
rumors  at  the  time,  and  from  what  De  Noyelles  stated  late 
in  life  there  were  good  grounds  for  them.  The  excite- 
ment over  the  Rarus  special,  two  heats  of  which  were 
sandwiched  with  the  2  :20  trot,  caused  what  was  going 
on  in  that  race  to  be  lost  sight  of,  and  that  Rarus  was 
good,  was  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  trotted  the  three 
fastest  consecutive  heats  on  record  up  to  that  date,  and  in 
the  last  one  equalled  the  world's  record  of  Goldsmith 
Maid.  The  following  is  the  fractional  time  for  the  three 
heats : 

First  heat 33% 

Second  heat.  . .   33%, 
Third  heat  . .       33 

Had  Rarus  not  made  a  misstep  at  the  head  of  the 
stretch  in  the  first  heat,  there  is  little  doubt  but  that  he 
would  have  reduced  the  world's  record  in  that  trial.  But 
as  it  proved,  the  crowning  performance  was  only  delayed 
a  week,  as  at  Buffalo,  after  taking  the  word  four  times, 
he  placed  the  figures  at  2:13^,  the  fractional  time  for 
his  mile  being  33^,  1:05^4,  1:38^,  2:1314.  In  his 
special  at  Buffalo,  Rarus  started  to  trot  three  heats  to 
average  2:18  or  better,  with  $500  added  if  2:14  was 
beaten.  His  first  mile  was  in  2:17.  In  the  second  Splan 
pulled   him   up   after   making   two  breaks   on    the  back 


1:06  # 

1:40% 

2:14^ 

1 :07# 

1:41^ 

2:15 

1:07 

1:40^ 

2:14 

48  MEMOIR. 

stretch,  and  jogged  out  in  2:50.  He  did  not  leave  the 
track  before  taking  the  word  for  the  third  trial.  C.  J. 
Hamlin  was  the  starter.  As  Splan  nodded  he  gave  the 
word.  Rarus  was  going  true,  but  broke  before  the  turn 
was  reached.  This  disposed  of  the  three  trials,  but  the 
judges  allowed  him  to  start  again,  and  the  result  was  a 
new  world's  record  of  2  :i3/4- 

For  the  first  and  only  time  in  its  history,  the  Cleve- 
land Association  was,  in  1878,  compelled  on  account  of 
unfavorable  weather,  to  declare  its  fall  meeting  off  after 
trotting  two  races.  The  heats  in  the  two  races  decided 
were  scattered  from  Tuesday  of  one  week  until  Monday 
of  the  following  one.  Belle  Brasfield,  winner  of  the 
2:21  class,  started  on  Tuesday  and  finished  Saturday, 
while  the  horses  in  the  2  145  class  were  out  on  Tuesday, 
Saturday  and  Monday  before  the  gray  mare,  Tolu,  won 
three  heats.  Mountaineer  and  Honest  Mary  were  the 
other  heat  winners  in  the  event. 

In  1879  the  "big  four"  started  at  Cleveland.  The 
members  of  this  famous  quartette  were  the  gray  mare, 
Lucy,  who  could  hold  her  own  in  any  company  when 
the  heats  were  split ;  the  blind  gelding,  Sleepy  Tom,  who 
had  the  week  before  reduced  the  world's  record  for  pacers 
to  2  :i2j4  at  Chicago ;  the  Southern  queen,  Mattie  Hunter, 
and  the  flashv  Rowdv  Bov.  In  this  race  Mattie  Hunter 
had  a  new  driver,  and  did  not  show  to  advantage,  while 
Rowdy  Boy  was  not  on  edge.  This  left  Lucy  and 
Sleepy  Tom  to  fight  it  out.  In  the  first  heat  the  gelding 
made  a  break  going  away,  and  Lucy  won  in  a  jog  in  2  :i6. 
On  the  next  two  trips  Sleepy  Tom  had  too  much  speed  for 
the  gray  mare,  and  won  in  2  113^4,  a  new  track  record,  and 
2:15.  In  the  fourth  heat  Lucy  caught  Sleepy  Tom  in 
the  stretch  and  beat  him  to  the  wire  in  2:15.     The  race 


l88o    MEETING.  49 

then  went  over,  and  on  the  following  day  Lucy  won  by  a 
length  in  2:16.  Mattie  Hunter  finished  second,  and 
Sleepy  Tom,  who  had  made  a  break  at  the  head  of  the 
stretch,  third. 

Of  the  trotting  races  Mace  won  the  2:20  and  2:18 
classes  in  straight  heats  with  Darby,  the  last  mile  in  the 
second  race  being  trotted  in  2  40^  after  a  heavy  shower. 
In  this  race  Darby  defeated  Driver,  Hannis,  and  Colonel 
Lewis.  His  first  start  in  the  2  :20  class,  in  which  he  de- 
feated Voltaire,  was  the  best  betting  race  at  the  meeting, 
although  Muckle  kept  everyone  on  the  anxious  seat  while 
he  spun  the  2  :26  class  out  to  seven  heats  before  he  won 
with  Monarch  Rule,  and  the  2  124  class  to  five  heats,  be- 
fore Lida  Barrett  disposed  of  Charley  Ford,  Rose  of 
Washington,  Red  Line,  and  Alley,  the  favorite.  The 
other  winners  during  the  week  were  Etta  Jones,  Fred 
Douglass  and  Rarus,  the  champion  trotter's  start  being  in 
the  free-for-all  against  Hopeful.  The  gray  pony  was  not 
himself,  and  in  order  to  entertain  the  spectators  Rarus 
was  turned  loose  in  the  third  heat  and  reeled  off  a  mile  in 
2:15. 

Of  the  ten  races  on  the  programme  for  the  meeting, 
given  in  connection  with  the  Xorthern  Ohio  Fair  in  1879, 
seven  were  for  trotters,  one  for  pacers,  and  two  for  the 
gallopers.  The  starters  in  the  running  races  were  of  a 
very  ordinary  character,  while  Clinker  won  the  pace,  his 
fastest  mile  being  2:23^.  In  the  trotting  races  Belle 
Brasfield  and  Lewinski  were  again  to  the  front,  the  other 
winners  being  Rienzi,  the  Harold  mare  Good  Morning. 
Diamond,  Bay  Fannie,  and  the  black  horse  Ambassador, 
by  George  Wilkes. 

In  1880.  George  H.  Burt,  who  had  been  Vice-President 
of  the  Cleveland  Club  for    three    years,  succeeded    Sam 


50  MEMOIR. 

Briggs  as  Secretary.  At  the  first  meeting  under  his  man- 
agement there  was  a  shoal  of  turf  champions,  the  entry 
list  presenting  the  names  of  Maud  S.,  St.  Julien,  both  of 
which  subsequently  held  world's  records;  Trinket, 
Wedgewood,  Black  Cloud,  and  the  "big  four"  pacers  with 
Sorrel  Dan  thrown  in  to  make  it  interesting.  To  St. 
Julien  belongs  the  honor  of  trotting  the  fastest  mile  at  this 
meeting,  his  first  heat  in  the  free-for-all  in  2:15^,  being 
his  best  performance  in  a  race  up  to  that  date,  and  in  that 
heat  Trinket  was  on  even  terms  with  him  at  the  quarter 
pole  in  32^4  seconds,  which  was  flying  in  the  day  of  high- 
wheel  sulkies.  Maud  S.,  the  peerless  daughter  of  Harold, 
that  was  destined  to  wrest  the  championship  honors  from 
St.  Julien  and  his  sable  successor  Jay  Eye  See,  trotted  the 
slowest  mile  at  this  meeting  when  she  jogged  under  the 
wire  in  2  131,  the  deciding  heat  of  the  2  119  class.  Driver, 
Charley  Ford  and  Hannis  were  the  other  starters  in  that 
race.  The  managers  of  the  horses  knew  that  they  had  not 
enough  speed  to  exercise  Maud  S.,  as  at  Chicago  the  pre- 
ceding week,  in  her  race  with  Trinket,  she  had  reduced  the 
race  record  to  2 :  133/2,  trotting  the  middle  half  of  the  mile 
in  1  \o\Y\.  On  this  account  there  was  a  strong  play  with 
Aland  S.  barred.  Hannis  was  the  choice,  while  it  is  said 
that  those  who  were  behind  him  had  a  few  tickets  on  the 
field,  which  included  Charlev  Ford  and  Driver.  The 
Charley  Ford  people  were  also  reported  to  have  bet  their 
money  the  other  way.  After  the  second  heat  Hannis  stood 
4-2  and  Charley  Ford  2-4.  The  third  heat  proved  a 
genuine  mule  race,  or,  in  other  words,  both  Splan  and 
Turner  were  determined  to  be  last.  Both  of  them 
dawdled  along,  while  Driver  jogged  with  Maud  S.  As 
Bair  saw  what  was  going  on,  he  took  back  and  won  the 
heat  in  2  131,  while  Turner,  who  usually  succeeds  in  what- 


KEYES    AND    LUCY.  51 

ever  he  undertakes,  came  last.  As  an  exhibition  of  pool 
box  methods,  the  showing  made  by  Charley  Ford  and 
Hannis  in  this  race  stands  as  the  most  glaring  sample  in 
the  history  of  the  Cleveland  track.  At  the  time  both  of 
these  horses  could  have  trotted  in  2:18  or  better,  but  in 
this  heat  they  did  not  go  in  2  40. 

The  free-for-all  pace,  at  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in 
1880,  was  a  very  closely  contested  race.  As  has  been 
stated,  Sorrel  Dan  was  added  to  the  "big  four,"  and  he 
had  a  strong  following.  Mattie  Hunter  was  a  head  in 
front  of  him  in  the  first  heat  in  2  :i6y2.  On  the  next  trip 
the  judges  could  not  separate  Lucy  and  Sorrel  Dan,  the 
announcement  being  a  dead  heat  in  2  :i 5^4.  In  the  third 
heat  Sleepy  Tom  lay  rather  close  to  Mattie  Hunter  as  they 
swung  into  the  turn,  and  when  Rhea  made  his  drive  for 
the  pole,  he  pinched  Sorrel  Dan.  While  they  were  mixed 
up  Rowdy  Boy  slipped  out  and  won  the  heat  in  2:16, 
and  the  judges  distanced  Mattie  Hunter  for  the  foul. 
By  this  time  the  field  had  come  back  to  Lucy,  and  Keyes 
won  a  heat  in  2:1634.  Mace  tried  his  hand  on  Rowdy 
Boy  in  the  fourth  mile,  and  won  it  by  half  a  length  in  2  117. 
The  effort  killed  him,  and  Lucy  had  it  all  her  own  way  in 
the  sixth  and  seventh  heats  in  2  :i8%,  2  :i9^.  The  other 
winners  during  the  week  were  Daisydale,  Will  Cody,  Wil- 
bur F.,  Bay  Billy,  Parana,  Wedgewood,  Hattie  Wood- 
ward, and  Unolala,  her  race  being  at  two-mile  heats.  On 
the  last  day  of  the  meeting  Maud  S.  also  gave  the  public 
ample  notice  of  the  record-breaking  miles  which  kept  her 
before  the  public  during  the  next  five  years,  by  trotting 
a  half  in  1  1043/2,  the  second  quarter  of  it  being  in  31^ 
seconds.  From  the  standpoint  of  extreme  speed  the 
Cleveland  meeting  in  1880  was  the  best  up  to  that  time, 
the  trotters  averaging  2  :2iy2  for  thirty-five  heats,  and  the 


52  MEMOIR. 

pacers  2:18^2  for  twelve  heats,  while  the  average  for  the 
forty-seven  heats  at  both  gaits  was  a  small  fraction  over 
2:20^4. 

In  the  reflected  light  of  the  racing  at  the  Grand  Circuit 
meeting,  the  showing  during  the  fair  in  September  was 
very  commonplace.  The  returns  show  that  the  roan 
mare  Elsie  Groff  won  two  races,  making  a  record  of 
2  -.26  ji  in  the  second  heat  of  one  of  them,  and  that  Jerome 
was  sent  to  the  front  in  an  eight-heat  contest  after  the 
judges  had  taken  the  matter  in  hand  and  declared  a  heat 
void  "because,"  as  it  was  published  at  the  time,  "Jerome 
was  pulled."  Billy  L.  and  Tom  Medley  were  the  only 
other  trotters  announced  as  winners  that  week,  while  a 
galloper  revelling  in  the  name  of  Proctor  Knott,  which 
subsequently  became  famous  when  tacked  on  to  the  first 
Futurity  winner,  landed  a  dash  of  a  mile  in  1  149. 

Small  fields  and  high-class  racing  were  the  distin- 
guishing features  at  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1881. 
Of  the  eleven  races  for  trotters  on  the  programme,  four 
of  them  had  but  four  starters,  while  only  three  took  the 
word  in  the  2:21  class  in  which  Edwin  Thorne  defeated 
Voltaire  and  the  Canadian  mare  Lucy,  who,  in  order  to 
distinguish  her  from  the  old-time  trotting  queen  and 
Keyes  celebrated  pacer,  was  dubbed  the  "Queen's  Own." 
In  the  first  heat  of  the  race  Edwin  Thorne  won  by  a  neck 
from  Lucy  in  2:20^.  On  the  next  trip  they  were  heads 
apart  at  the  wire,  2  :27„  Voltaire  being  between  the  Thorn- 
dale  gelding  and  Lucy.  In  the  deciding  heat  it  was  Thorne 
all  the  way  in  2:22.  The  2:15  trot  and  free-for-all  pace 
proved  the  sensational  features  of  the  week.  Charley 
Ford,  Robert  McGregor,  Midnight  and  Hopeful  took  the 
word  in  the  former,  while  seven  "side  wheelers"  an- 
swered the  bell  in  the  pace.     Mattie  Hunter  was  the  fav- 


1 88 1    MEETING.  53 

orite,  and  won  after  losing  two  heats  to  Bay  Billy,  Lucy 
and  Ben  Hamilton,  being  distanced  in  the  first  heat,  while 
the  old-timer,  Sweetser,  with  "Cart"  Wilson  up,  caught 
the  flag  in  the  fourth.  Midnight  was  the  favorite  in  the 
2:15  trot.  In  the  first  heat  Hopeful  flew  to  the  half  in 
1.06^4,  but  faded  in  the  stretch,  Midnight  winning  on  a 
jog  in  2  :i9/^.  Charley  Ford  was  not  driven  for  the  heat 
on  account  of  a  knee  boot  slipping  down.  On  the  next 
trip  Ford  and  the  favorite  had  a  brush  in  the  stretch,  the 
black  gelding  winning  by  a  length  in  2:19^4.  Dustin 
tried  again  in  the  third  heat,  and  this  time  he  was  success- 
ful, as  Midnight  gave  it  up  at  the  distance,  and  Charley 
Ford  won  in  a  jog  in  2:20^4.  The  finish  of  the  fourth 
heat  presented  one  of  those  characteristic  finishes  that 
caused  Robert  McGregor  to  be  called  the  "Monarch  of 
the  home  stretch."  At  the  distance  Ford  had  the  heat 
won,  with  McGregor  a  length  away.  It  looked  as  though 
he  had  made  his  brush  at  the  three-quarters  and  failed, 
but  when  Crawford  called  on  him  he  came  again,  closed 
with  the  leader,  nailed  him  at  the  wire,  and  won  by  a  nose 
in  2  :22.  The  next  two  heats  went  to  Charley  Ford.  In 
the  deciding  one  Charley  Ford  had  the  field  a  distance  out 
when  Jerry  Munroe  ordered  Dustin  to  take  the  gray  horse 
back,  so  that  he  literally  walked  under  the  wire  in  2  130. 
The  special  features  at  this  meeting  were  two  trotting 
races  at  two-mile  heats  and  an  exhibition  of  Great  Eastern 
with  running  mate.  The  big  gelding  did  not  perform  sat- 
isfactorily, his  fastest  mile  being  trotted  in  2:21.  In  the 
two-mile  races  the  event  for  the  2  138  class  was  won  by  an 
outsider  named  Stranger  in  5:09^,  5:10,  while  the  class 
for  the  2  124  horses  was  awarded  Post  Boy  after  Calmar 
and  Amber  had  each  a  heat.  Calmar  won  the  first  heat  by 
a  length  from  Post  Boy  in  4  152^.  The  same  distance  sep- 


54  MEMOIR. 

arated  Amber  and  Post  Boy  at  the  finish  of  the  second 
heat,  the  latter  winning  in  4  :$2y2,  with  Calmar  third.  In 
the  third  heat  Post  Boy  was  unsteady.  He  finished  half 
a  length  in  front  of  Amber,  but  the  Clear  Grit  horse  was 
given  first  place,  his  time  being  4:5634.  Post  Boy  and 
Amber  were  up  and  down  in  the  deciding  heat,  but  the 
judges  placed  them  as  they  finished,  Post  Boy  first  in 
4:56,  Amber  second  and  Calmar  third.  The  other  races 
on  the  card  were  won  by  Humboldt,  Eureka,  Trinket, 
Troubadour  and  Annie  W.,  Geers  marking  her  in  2  :20  in 
this  race,  and  on  a  track  within  a  few  miles  of  the  farm 
where,  in  1893,  she  produced  the  pacer  Ananias,  2  105. 

Those  who  enjoy  split-heat  pacing  will  find  a  perusal 
of  the  summaries  for  the  fall  meeting  very  interesting. 
The  official  records  show  that  Sue  Grundy  and  Badger 
Boy  each  won  after  trotting  seven  heats,  while  the  2  '.22 
pace,  2  135  trot,  and  2  140  trot,  each  required  six  heats  be- 
fore Billy  Scott,  Frank  Ross  and  William  Benham  were 
announced  as  the  respective  winners.  Mohawk  Maid 
also  showed  her  stamina  by  winning  a  five  heat  contest  in 
the  2  150  class  after  Stephen  M.  had  twice  led  the  field 
to  the  wire.  The  Young  Wilkes  gelding,  William  H., 
was  the  only  straight-heat  winner  at  the  meeting,  his 
honors  being  gained  in  the  2  120  class  when  he  defeated 
Driver,  Calmar,  Deck  Wright  and  Scott's  Thomas  in 
2:2034,  2:20^,  2:22.  On  the  last  day  of  this  meeting 
W.  J.  Gordon  also  established  a  world's  record  for  a  four- 
in-hand  team.  He  started  Carrie  Berryhill  and  Fanchion 
as  leaders,  and  Billy  Strawbridge  and  an  unnamed  bay 
mare  as  wheelers,  to  beat  3  :io.  At  the  first  attempt 
they  trotted  in  3:02^,  and  as  there  was  $100  added  if 
three  minutes  was  beaten,  they  tried  again  and  made  the 
circuit  in  2  :56^.     This  record  was  again  changed  on  the 


FOUR-IN-HAND    TEAMS.  OO 

first  day  of  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1882,  when  Mil- 
lard Sanders  drove  W.  J.  Gordon's  team,  Carry  Berry- 
hill,  Fanchion,  Rumps  and  Lotta,  in  2  156,  and  repeated 
in  2  42.  Two  days  later  Millard  also  appeared  again 
with  another  of  Mr.  Gordon's  fancy  hitches  for  trotters 
and  made  a  tandem  record  of  2  40^2  with  Carry  Berry- 
hill  and  Nellie  K.  This  remained  unbeaten  until  Sep- 
tember 16,  1886,  when  the  same  owner  and  driver  cut  it  to 
2  132  with  Mambrino  Sparkle  and  William  H.  I  am  of 
the  opinion  that  this  record  has  never  been  beaten,  nor  do 
I  remember  of  anyone  ever  making  an  effort  to  change  it. 
After  the  close  of  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  William 
B.  Fasig,  who  had  been  elected  Secretary  of  the  Cleveland 
Club,  decided  to  try  his  hand  at  four-in-hand  trotting, 
and -the  result  was  a  special  at  the  fall  meeting  with  the 
following  result : 

Cleveland,  O.,  September  7,  1882. 

Four-in-hand  Teams,  Trotting,  Purse  $500. 

William  B.  Fasig' s  Peculiar  and  Frank  Ross 
(leaders)  Tom  Bradley  and  Rumps,  (wheel- 
ers), (Whitney) 1     1 

W.  J.  Gordon's  Carrie  Berryhill  and  Fanchion 
(leaders) Lotta  and  Legal  Tender  (wheelers), 
( Sanders) 2     2 

Time— 2:57^,  2:40^. 

The  above  is  the  world's  race  record  for  four-in-hand 
trotting  teams  at  this  date  (1902),  and  it  stood  as  the  best 
on  record  until  September  17,  1886,  when  W.  J.  Gordon 
put  the  fast  trotters  Mambrino  Sparkle,  Clemmie  G., 
William  H.  and  Nobby  together  and,  in  a  special  for  a 
whip,  moved  the  figures  to  2  \^y.  No  change  was  made 
in  this  record  from  that  date  until  July  4,  1896,  when 
James  Stinson  started  Damania,  Bellnut,  Maud  V.  and 


56  MEMOIR. 

Nutspra  to  beat  2:31^  over  Washington  Park,  Chicago, 
111.,  and  turned  that  track  in  2  130.  In  connection  with  this 
performance  it  might  also  be  added  that  the  four  horses 
in  this  team  were  all  chestnuts  and  by  the  same  sire,  Nut- 
meg, a  son  of  Nutwood. 

As  stated  above,  William  B.  Fasig  was  elected  Secre- 
tary of  the  Cleveland  Club  in  1882,  and  the  first  meeting 
under  his  management  proved  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
ever  held  at  the  track  which  has  made  Glenville  famous. 
The  number  of  entries  was  above  the  average,  while  the 
uniform  quality  of  the  starters  was  better  than  had  ever 
appeared  for  a  trip  down  the  line.  For  the  first  race  at 
the  meeting  Gus  Glidden  dropped  in  from  Indiana  with 
the  George  Wilkes  gelding,  Wilson.  He  was  known  to 
be  fast,  but  in  need  of  schooling  to  make  him  behave  in 
company,  and  according  to  report,  in  order  to  overcome 
Wilson's  nervousness,  Glidden  trained  him  on  his  farm 
track  while  all  of  the  boys  in  the  neighborhood  tooted 
long  tin  horns  at  him.  When  Glidden  nodded  for  the 
word  at  Cleveland,  Wilson  was  ready  to  race.  He  won 
the  first  and  last  race  at  the  meeting,  while  his  line  of 
march  through  the  circuit  that  year  also  shows  that  he 
won  two  races  at  Rochester,  two  races  at  Utica,  one  race 
at  Buffalo,  and  one  at  Hartford.  The  2  123  trot  was  sand- 
wiched with  the  first  race  won  by  Wilson.  Minnie  R.  was 
the  favorite  at  $50  to  $30  over  the  field.  She  was  driven 
by  "Knapsack"  McCarthy,  and  when  the  summary  was 
made  up  she  saved  her  entrance,  the  race  being  won  by 
Jerome  Eddy  in  2:19,  2:18,  2:19.  In  the  deciding  heat 
of  this  race,  Jerome  Eddy  passed  the  half  in  1  107^4,  and 
finished  on  a  jog.  It  looked  to  many  that  had  he  been 
driven  out,  the  stallion  record  of  Smuggler  would  have 
been  equalled  or  reduced.     His  day  never  came  again,  as 


BOSTICK    AND    WARRIOR.  57 

the  handsome  son  of  Louis  Napoleon,  after  reducing  his 
record  to  2  \i6y2,  in  the  special  with  Black  Cloud  at  Buf- 
falo the  following  week,  was  sold  and  retired  to  the  stud. 
On  the  second  day  John  Bostick  stripped  Warrior  and 
started  to  win  the  2  :25  pace.  He  had  told  everyone  that 
his  delicate-looking  gelding  could  pace  "fo'  heats  in 
fo'teen  to  eighteen  and  win  suah,"  but  he  failed,  Geers 
pulling  it  off  with  Joe  Bowers  Jr.,  while  the  second 
money  went  to  the  Clear  Grit  gelding,  Fuller.  This  race 
was  alternated  with  the  2  129  class,  won  by  London,  and 
followed  bv  the  free-for-all  pace,  which  resolved  itself  into 
the  usual  guessing  match.  Seven  horses  started,  and  seven 
heats  were  reeled  off  before  the  Lucy  tickets  were 
cashed,  the  other  heat  winners  being  Mattie  Hunter,  Bay 
Billy  and  Buffalo  Girl,  who  was  distanced  in  the  sixth 
heat.  Aldine  and  Adele  Gould  were  the  winners  of  the 
regular  events  on  the  programme  for  the  third  day  of 
the  meeting,  and  on  the  following  one  Rosa  Wilkes  trotted 
to  her  record  when  she  won  the  2  120  class,  and  Clingstone 
defeated  Edwin  Thorne,  J.  B.  Thomas  and  So-So  in  a 
special.  This  was  one  of  the  greatest  races  of  the  year, 
and  was  described  as  follows  by  M.  T.  Grattan,  who, 
with  his  eye  in  "Danteic  frenzy  rolling,"  did  the  meeting 
for  the  Breeders'  Gazette : 

"Positions  were  drawn  in  the  following  order :  So 
So,  Clingstone,  Thorne  and  J.  B.  Thomas.  So  So  broke 
at  the  turn,  and  only  recovered  in  time  to  beat  Thomas 
home.  Nothing  more  need  be  said  of  them  in  the  heat. 
The  interest  centered  in  the  great  leaders,  who  gave  the 
assembled  multitude  the  finest  heat  ever  trotted  over  any 
track.  The  pole  would  have  enabled  either  to  win.  Right 
together  from  end  to  end,  the  struggle  home  became  ab- 
solutely  painful   in   intensity.     At  the    distance   Thorne 


58  MEMOIR. 

moved  up  a  little,  and  the  shout  went  up,  "Thorne  has 
it,"  but  Saunders  shook  Clingstone,  and  he  responding, 
recovered  his  lead  of  a  throat-latch ;  then  Turner  drew 
his  whip,  and  its  sharp  hiss  through  the  air  proved  the 
earnest  manner  in  which  it  was  wielded.  Thorne,  the 
gamest  race-horse  that  ever  lived,  responded  to  every 
stroke,  but  the  machine  beside  him  could  not  be  beaten, 
and  won  in  2:14.  Thorne  is  a  great  race  horse,  with 
the  ardent  impulses,  sympathies  and  passions  that  make 
him  akin  to  a  man  with  the  true  instincts  of  a  sportsman. 
All  that  a  mighty  purpose,  a  grand  passion  can  accom- 
plish, he  can  do ;  but  he  is  flesh  and  blood,  limited  and 
bound  down  to  the  possibilities  of  physical  attainment. 
He  can  not  beat  an  automaton,  a  piece  of  mechanical  per- 
fection that  goes  on  and  on  forever,  who  is  moved  by 
neither  passion  or  impulse.  Cool,  imperturbable,  impas- 
sive, the  smooth,  even  piston-like  stroke  of  this  Flying 
Dutchman  among  horses  breaks  the  heart  of  all  opposi- 
tion. I  doubt  whether  he  is  a  real  flesh  and  blood  horse ; 
he  is  a  wraith,  a  ghost,  a  Satanic  invention.  Men  are 
consumed  with  an  insane  passion  to  own  the  fastest  trotter 
in  the  world.  Some  one,  careless  of  the  future,  has 
placed  his  soul  in  pawn,  and  the  result  is  what  we  call 
Clingstone.  The  great  enemy  of  mankind  must  be  cir- 
cumvented before  he  can  be  beaten.  Maud  S.,  St.  Julien, 
Trinket,  have  no  show  to  beat  him,  until  cope  and  stole, 
and  book  and  ring,  have  exorcised  the  demon  that  pos- 
sesses him. 

"Second  Heat — A  long  skirmish  for  an  advantage, 
which  resulted  in  a  slight  lead  on  the  send-off  for  Thorne, 
now  began  the  bitterest  struggle  I  have  ever  seen  on  a 
race-track.  Thome's  partisans  shouted  that  he  had  him, 
but   Clingstone   still   kept  his   nose   in  the  gap   between 


THE   DEMON   TROTTER,  59 

Thome's  wheel  and  the  pole.  Gradually  he  went  to  his 
girth,  then  to  his  throat-latch,  at  the  quarter,  exactly  even, 
in  32^4,  at  the  half  in  1  105!  Think  of  it!  over  a  slow 
track,  and  this  demon  trotter  Clingstone  at  his  ease. 
Thome's  great  heart  broke.  He  had  made  the  supreme 
effort,  and  it  was  unavailing.  No  horse  he  had  yet  tried 
with  such  a  desperate  brush  had  failed  to  succumb.  Now 
he  had  met  something  above  ordinances — a  horse  appar- 
ently subject  to  no  law  that  governs  flesh  and  blood ;  a 
2  :io  clip  seems  an  idle  pastime.  So  evident  was  this  that 
Thorne  and  Turner,  a  great  horse  and  great  driver, 
yielded  in  despair  to  fate  and  the  demon  trotter.  De- 
jected and  sorrowful  they  finished  the  journey.  My  sym- 
pathy went  out  to  Thorne  as  to  a  human  being  in  distress. 
The  proud  and  sensitive  equine  face  betrayed  the  most 
poignant  sorrow.  His  high  ambition  to  be  king ;  inherited 
from  a  proud  ancestry,  has  been  relentlessly  crushed ;  de- 
feat had  come  to  check  his  hot  blood  in  its  victorious 
flood.  Woe  is  Thorne!  Woe  is  the  house  of  Turner. 
Woe  is  me,  for  I  tingled  in  every  fibre  with  hope  for  his 
victory,  the  victory  of  a  kingly  horse.  The  sight  of  other 
trotters  became  hateful,  the  mechanical  noting  of  their 
positions  a  burdensome  task.  I  feel  that  I  never  want  to 
see  another  race.  I  abandon  the  journey  and  return  to 
the  wilds  of  Minnesota. 

Third  Heat. — Turner  said  to  the  judges  :  "If  I  nod 
for  the  word,  give  it  to  me."  This  was  a  confession  that 
he  yielded  to  the  "machine."  Thorne  is  a  race-horse, 
but  Clingstone  is  a  machine  which  it  seems  hopeless  to 
contend  with.  Turner  had  proved  him,  to  his  entire  sat- 
isfaction, perfect  in  all  his  points — every  joint  and  lever 
in  unison  with  a  controlling  intelligence,  quiet,  calm,  cold ; 
not  a  horse  to  excite  sympathy  or  enthusiasm,  but  a  fate 


60  MEMOIR. 

relentless,  unyielding.  Thorne  had  fought  like  a  giant, 
like  the  grand  race-horse  that  he  is,  to  conquer  this  Sa- 
tanic piece  of  mechanism.  The  task  was  a  hopeless  and 
impossible  one.  Thorne,  stamped  with  the  seal  of  sorrow, 
listlessly  jogged  around.  He  is  Turner's  pride  and  pet, 
better  liked  than  any  horse  he  has  ever  driven,  the  crown- 
ing achievement  of  his  grey  hairs.  At  Chicago,  when  I 
said  to  him,  "I  think  Thorne  can  down  him,"  Turner  drew 
a  long  breath  and  said,  "I  hope  so."  His  heart  was  in  it. 
All  the  subtle  skill  and  tact  of  "The  General"  were  used 
to  their  utmost,  but  without  avail :  Thorne  was  beaten. 
The  following  is  the  hateful  record  of  his  defeat,  which  I 
would  some  other  hand  than  mine  might  write : 

Cleveland,  O.,  July  28,  1882. 
Purse  $3,000  tor  named  horses,  trotting. 

W.  J.  Gordon's  b.  g.  Clingstone  by  Rysdyk 

(Saunders) 1     1     1 

Edwin  Thome's   ch.  g.    Edwin   Thorne  by 

Thorndale  (Turner) 223 

M.  M.  Hedges'  b.  s.  J.  B.Thomas  by  Sterl- 
ing (Weeks) 4     3     2 

N.    W.    Kittson's   b.    m.   So    So  by  George 

Wilkes  (McCarthy)    3     dis. 

TIME. 


First  heat 

•     34 

1:07 

1 140  \i 

2:14 

Second  heat   . . 

•     32H 

1:05 

i:39^2 

2:16^ 

■     35% 

1:10 

1:46^ 

2\23l4. 

It  was  in  the  description  of  this  race  that  M.  T.  Grat- 
tan  described  Clingstone  as  "the  demon  trotter,"  and  I 
have  always  been  led  to  believe  that  the  expression  orig- 
inated with  him,  but  now  I  have  my  doubts,  as  on  turning 
to  the  official  record  of  the  race,  I  find  written  in  William 
B.  Fasig's  unmistakable  hand,  in  parenthesis  after  Cling- 


WHAT    2:14    MEANT.  61 

stone's  name,  the  words  "The  Demon  Trotter."  In  con- 
nection with  this  race  it  can  be  added  that  Clingstone's 
mile  in  2:14  in  the  first  heat  stood  as  the  trotting  race 
record  of  the  Cleveland  track  until  September  8,  1892, 
when  Evangeline,  hitched  to  a  bike  sulky,  won  the  first 
heat  of  the  free-for-all  in  2 :  13^4,  and  the  fifth  in  2  :n^4, 
and  it  was  never  beaten  in  a  trotting  race  at  a  Grand  Cir- 
cuit meeting  until  August  11,  1892,  when,  at  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  the  bay  gelding  Walter  E.,  hitched  to  a  bike  sulky, 
won  the  second  heat  of  the  2:17  class  in  2:13^,  and  fur- 
thermore, it  was  never  equalled  in  a  trotting  race  at  a 
Grand  Circuit  meeting  until  August  6,  1892,  when 
Martha  Wilkes,  also  hitched  to  a  bike  sulky,  won  the  de- 
ciding heat  of  the  2:19  class  by  a  head  from  Nightingale 
at  Buffalo  in  2:14.  This  fact,  more  than  anything  that 
can  be  said,  demonstrates  the  superlative  excellence  of 
Clingstone  as  a  fast  race-horse,  and  that  the  mile  was  not 
a  flash  performance  was  amply  demonstrated  at  Buffalo 
the  following  week,  when  Edwin  Thorne  drew  the  pole, 
and  Clingstone  in  second  position  beat  him  a  head  in 
2:14^4.  It  is  true  that  Clingstone  pinched  Thorne  a 
trifle  at  the  finish,  and  Turner  might  have  been  given  the 
heat  if  he  had  claimed  a  foul,  but  he  did  not  want  it  as 
his  time  had  not  come.  The  day  of  triumph  was  set  for 
Hartford,  the  birth  place  of  "the  demon  trotter,"  and  it 
came,  as  over  Charter  Oak  Park,  the  place  where  Cling- 
stone took  his  first  lessons,  Edwin  Thorne  defeated  the 
Rysdyk  gelding  in  a  special  after  Clingstone  had  won 
a  heat  in  2:17.  Later  in  the  season  it  was  learned  that 
Clingstone  was  at  the  time  suffering  from  a  tumor,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  but  that  it  was  the  cause  for  his  loss  of 
form  after  the  Rochester  meeting.  Clingstone  was  foaled 
in  a  paddock  that  is   now  included  in  Elizabeth   Park, 


62  MEMOIR. 

which  was  presented  to  the  City  of  Hartford  by  his 
breeder,  C.  M.  Pond.  He  was  buried  at  Gordon  Glen, 
opposite  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park.  His  name  will  be 
remembered  while  the  trotter  is  considered  a  distinct  type 
of  race-horse. 

The  fastest  race  at  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Cleveland 
Club  in  1882,  was  won  by  Fuller  when  he  defeated  Ben 
Hamilton,  Joe  Bowers  Jr.,  and  Charley  H.,  in  2:16^, 
2:153/2,  2:14^4.  He  was  driven  in  this  race  by  Andrew 
McDowell,  while  Ed  Geers  was  behind  Joe  Bowers.  Fred 
Golddust,  Ewing,  St.  Louis,  Mattie  Graham,  Rosa 
Wilkes,  Joe  Bunker  and  Nettie  Clay  also  won  races  at 
this  meeting,  while  Warrior  again  went  down  to  defeat, 
the  honors  on  this  occasion  going  to  Sailor  Boy.  This 
event,  with  the  running  races  at  two,  five  and  ten  miles, 
between  Miss  Williams  of  Kansas,  and  Miss  Burke  of 
Nebraska,  rounded  out  an  attractive  programme,  of 
which  the  four-in-hand  team  racing  already  referred  to 
was  one  of  the  most  distinguishing  features. 

At  the  time  William  B.  Fasig  was  elected  Secretary 
of  the  Cleveland  Club,  he  and  "Uncle  Ben"  Wright 
owned  two  mares  in  partnership.  They  were  Fearless,  by 
Western  Fearnaught,  and  Lilly  Bloom,  by  Daniel  Lam- 
bert. As  a  starter  in  a  breeding  venture  they  farmed 
them  on  shares  with  the  owner  of  Ambassador,  and  five 
colts  were  foaled  before  the  stock  was  divided.  Finally 
they  went  to  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  Ambassador 
was  owned,  and  found  that  the  entire  outfit  was  so  poor 
that  the  bunch  had  to  stand  twice  in  one  place  to  make 
a  shadow.  When  it  came  to  picking,  Fasig  selected  the 
yearling  colt  out  of  Lilly  Bloom  and  the  two-year-old  filly 
out  of  Fearless.  "Uncle  Ben"  did  not  consider  them  up 
to  the  mark,  so  Fasig  purchased  his  interest  and  gave  the 


WYANDOT    AND    KEOKEE.  63 

owner  of  the  horse  some  money  and  the  other  three  colts 
for  his  interest  in  the  pair.  The  two  selected  were  the 
only  trotters  in  the  bunch.  The  filly  was  named  Keokee, 
and  raced  successfully,  taking  a  record  of  2:20*^,  but  in 
the  last  heat  in  which  she  ever  started  she  was  timed  sep- 
arately in  2:1334,  while  Fasig  also  drove  her  a  mile  in 
2  .22  to  a  road  wagon  over  the  Cleveland  track.  Wyan- 
dot was  the  name  selected  for  the  colt.  He  was  a  nervy 
little  chap  but  unfortunate,  and  he  finally  died  on  Septem- 
ber 11,  1 89 1,  the  day  after  he  trotted  to  a  record  of  2  119^. 
The  following  year  William  B.  Fasig  selected  a  picture  of 
Wyandot's  head  as  a  trade  mark  for  his  sale  business. 
The  first  block  was  made  from  an  instantaneous  photo- 
graph, but  at  a  later  date  he  had  Frank  Whitney,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  writer,  make  the  drawing  from  which 
the  trade-mark  used  at  a  later  date  by  William  B.  Fasig 
&  Co.,  and  at  the  present  time  by  the  Fasig-Tipton  Com- 
pany, was  reproduced. 

In  the  fall  of  1882,  William  B.  Fasig  made  his  first 
trip  to  Kentucky  as  a  horse  buyer.  After  swinging 
around  the  circle,  he  returned  to  Cleveland  with  a  four- 
year-old  black  gelding  which  he  purchased  from  a  school- 
teacher back  in  the  country  between  Winchester  and 
Mount  Sterling.  When  the  sale  of  this  gelding  had  been 
completed  and  the  money  paid,  the  blue-grass  pedagogue 
took  Fasig  to  one  side  and  said :  "Now,  I'll  tell  you  why 
I  sold  this  horse.  I  want  a  better  one,  and  am  going  to 
have  as  good  a  one  as  any  of  my  friends  in  the  neighbor- 
hood." This  was  not  very  encouraging  for  a  beginner, 
but  according  to  report  the  Buckeye  buyer  was  equal  to 
the  occasion,  as  he  replied :  "Horses  are  like  the  darkey's 
opinion  of  white  men,  'onsartin'.  You  may  get  a  better 
one,  my  friend,  and  then  again  you  may  only  think  he 


64  MEMOIR. 

is  better."  Fasig  paid  $175  for  the  black  gelding  and  sold 
him  to  Thomas  Axworthy  for  $225.  He  used  him  for  a 
saddler,  but  in  time  turned  him  over  to  George  W.  Baker. 
On  joining  the  Baker  stable  the  gelding  was  broken  to 
harness,  and  during  the  winter  of  1884  he  was  the  boss  of 
the  snow  path  in  Cleveland. 

In  1883  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company  suc- 
ceeded the  Cleveland  Club,  while  the  Northern  Ohio  Fair 
Association  passed  out  of  existence.  William  Edwards 
was  elected  President  of  the  new  organization ;  George 
W.  Short,  Vice-President ;  Sylvester  T.  Everett,  Treas- 
urer, and  William  B.  Fasig,  Secretary.  William  Ed- 
wards remained  in  office  up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1898,  and  in  no  racing  organization  that  I 
know  of  was  a  man  ever  given  more  loyal  support  than 
that  accorded  "the  Colonel"  by  his  associates  and  the 
stockholders  of  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company, 
and  it  remained  so  to  the  end,  as  it  was  known  that  what 
he  did  at  home  and  abroad  was  on  account  of  his  love  for 
the  light  harness  horse  and  not  in  the  hope  of  making  a 
few  dollars.  With  William  B.  Fasig  racing  was  a  busi- 
ness, but  the  "almighty  dollar"  never  came  between  him 
and  his  love  for  a  horse.  His  enthusiasm  and  earnest- 
ness carried  him  through,  as  he  was  not  a  good  business 
man,  while,  like  many  who  have  worked  for  years  on  a 
salary,  he  did  not  have  much  confidence  in  his  splendid 
qualities  until  success  came  to  him  as  it  were  in  a  night. 
Fasig  retained  the  Secretaryship  of  the  Cleveland  Driving 
Park  Company  until  1892,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Sid- 
ney W.  Giles,  who  had  been  for  years  identified  with 
Island  Park,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  George  W.  Short  was 
Vice-President  when  he  died  in  1898.  He  was  buried  on 
one  of  the  days  of  the  meeting.     Sylvester  T.  Everett  is 


1883    MEETING.  65 

still  (1902)  in  office,  having  been  Treasurer  continuously, 
of  the  Cleveland  Club  and  its  successor,  since  1875.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  William  Edwards  and  William  B. 
Fasig  were  not  favored  with  the  allotted  span  of  life. 
While  they  were  in  the  field  they  labored  zealously  for  the 
cause  with  which  they  were  identified,  and  when  they 
stepped  aside  they  left  it  better  than  they  found  it.  Let 
us  hope,  dear  reader,  that  when  the  bell  taps  for  you  and  I 
someone  can  say  as  much  for  us. 

As  there  were  a  number  of  important  stables  in  train- 
ing at  Cleveland  in  the  spring  of  1883,  the  Cleveland 
Driving  Park  Company  decided  to  make  a  change  and 
give  a  meeting  in  June  instead  of  September.  June  5  to 
8  were  the  dates  selected,  and  while  that  week  was  handi- 
capped by  unfavorable  weather,  it  had  four  days'  racing 
above  the  average.  As  a  curtain-raiser,  Bither  stepped 
out  and  won  the  2  134  class,  with  Phallas  giving  him  a 
mark  of  2:18^4  in  a  fifth  heat,  while  the  Case  stable  also 
won  the  2  40  class  with  Dixie  Sprague.  St.  Julien  and 
Fanny  Witherspoon  met  in  the  free-for-all  trot,  the  Vol- 
unteer gelding  winning  in  straight  heats,  while  Flora 
Belle  defeated  Fuller  in  the  free-for-all  pace  after  carry- 
ing him  to  his  record  of  2  113^4  in  the  second  heat.  Tony 
Newell,  Joe  Bunker,  Edwin  A.  and  Eddie  D.  were  the 
other  winners  at  the  only  June  meeting  ever  given  at  the 
Cleveland  Driving  Park.  The  scene  was  changed  when 
the  Grand  Circuit  horses  appeared  at  the  track  on  the  last 
day  of  July.  At  this  meeting  trotting  stallions  were  in 
the  ascendant.  Both  Phallas  and  Maxie  Cobb,  the  future 
champions,  won  races  during  the  week,  the  first  named 
placing  his  record  at  2  :i5^,  within  a  quarter  of  a  second 
of  Smuggler's  championship  mark  in  the  second  heat  of 
the  race  in  which  he  defeated  Duquesne.     Maxie  Cobb 


66  MEMOIR . 

also  filled  the  public  eye  when,  as  proud  as  a  peacock,  he 
marched  in  front  of  the  field  in  the  2  129  class.  The  star 
event  of  the  week  was  the  struggle  between  Director  and 
Wilson  in  the  2  :22  class.  Both  of  them  made  their  rec- 
ords in  this  race,  and  before  the  sixth  heat  was  finished, 
Director,  favored  by  his  handy  breaks,  had  trotted  the 
George  Wilkes  gelding  into  the  ground.  Splan  laid  Wil- 
son up  in  the  first  heat,  while  Gladiator  carried  Director 
to  the  half  in  1  :o8^,  and  was  within  a  length  of  him  at 
the  wire  in  2:19^2.  In  the  second  heat  Gladiator  and 
Wilson  closed  in  on  Director  and  pocketed  him.  They 
went  in  this  order  to  the  half  in  1  :oa^,  when  John  Gold- 
smith took  back  and  pulled  outside  of  the  leaders.  As 
soon  as  clear  sailing  was  secured  he  started  after  Wilson. 
He  was  at  his  wheel  when  the  three  quarters  was  passed, 
and  at  his  neck  as  they  swept  by  the  distance.  Then  for 
a  few  strides  they  were  head  and  head.  Wilson  wavered 
under  the  strain,  and  broke  into  a  scrambling  run.  As 
he  did  Goldsmith  touched  Director  with  the  whip  and  he 
broke.  Both  horses  ran  under  the  wire,  and  as  the  judges 
could  not  separate  them  it  was  declared  a  dead  heat,  and 
the  time  2  117.  Wilson  won  the  third  heat  by  two  lengths 
in  2  :i6^4,  and  in  the  fourth  heat  finished  on  a  break,  the 
finish  between  him  and  Director  being  so  close  that  only 
the  judges  could  decide.  They  said  Director,  and  the 
time  was  2  11754-  In  the  fifth  heat  Gladiator  and  Wilson 
were  on  even  terms  at  the  half  in  1  107^.  The  Blue  Bull 
gelding  fell  back  in  the  third  quarter,  but  as  Goldsmith 
was  forced  to  go  around  him  and  Kate  McCall  he  could 
not  reach  the  flying  leader,  the  heat  going  to  Wilson  in 
2:18.  With  the  non-heat  winners  out  of  the  way,  Di- 
rector made  short  work  of  Wilson,  and  won  in  a  walk  in 
2:2834.     Santa  Claus  was  the  fourth  stallion  to  win  at 


OX    THE    SNOW    IN    NEW    YORK.  67 

this  meeting.  He  was  in  the  2:18  class.  The  facers  for 
the  week  came  in  the  two  pacing  races  which  were  won 
by  Eddie  D.  and  YYestmont,  and  the  free-for-all  trot  in 
which  both  Fanny  Witherspoon  and  Edwin  Thorne  fin- 
ished in  front  of  St.  Julien.  The  Association  did  not  say 
much  about  the  showing  made  by  the  lateral  gaited 
horses,  but  when  making  his  announcement  in  1884,  Sec- 
retary Fasig,  in  a  letter  to  the  "Spirit  of  the  Times,"  said 
that  "The  owners  of  pacers  can  thank  themselves  for  not 
receiving  more  encouragement  from  the  circuit.  The  pace 
has  the  elements  of  a  grand  contest,  but  the  managers  of 
that  mode  of  going  started  with  the  idea  that  it  was  nec- 
essary to  rob  the  public  on  each  and  every  occasion  possi- 
ble, so  that  the  name  of  pacing  has  become  synonymous 
with  jobbery,  and  it  is  well  enough  to  allow  these  smart 
ones  to  stay  at  home  with  their  wives  and  children,  and 
plow  their  side-wheelers  one  season.  A  quiet  summer's 
reflection  may  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  their  duty." 
Sleepy  Joe,  Stranger,  Richball,  Clemmie  G.  and  Jay  Eye 
See  were  the  other  winners  at  the  meeting  in  1883,  the 
last  named  defeating  Majolica  in  a  match  in  2  120^4,  2  :i6, 
2:15^4.  This  was  the  first  Cleveland  meeting  at  which 
the  average  time  was  below  2  :20,  and  it  was  also  the  first 
at  which  it  offered  installment  plan  purses,  the  two  pro- 
grammed being  won  by  Phallas  and  Eddie  D. 

During  the  last  week  in  January,  1884,  New  York  was 
favored  with  a  fall  of  snow,  and  for  about  two  weeks 
everv  horse  that  had  a  little  speed  or  was  supposed  to 
have  a  little  of  that  desirable  quality,  was  out  on  Seventh 
Avenue  for  an  airing,  while  those  who  were  not  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  have  a  turnout  or  a  friend  that  would  give  them 
a  lift,  knocked  their  heels  on  the  curb  as  the  procession 
moved  up  and  down  the  road.     Almost  every  afternoon 


6S  MEMOIR. 

when  the  racing  was  fast  and  furious  Shepard  F.  Knapp 
dropped  into  the  bunch  of  leaders  with  his  bay  geldings 
Charlie  Hilton,  by  Vigo  Hambletonian,  and  Sam  Hill,  the 
only  trotter  that  Electioneer  sired  while  at  Stony  Ford. 
They  were  a  perfect  road  team,  and  that  they  were  fast 
was  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  John  Murphy  had  taken 
them  in  road  condition  and  drove  them  over  Fleetwood 
in  2\2\y2.  During  this  spell  of  sleighing  "Shep" 
Knapp  drove  up  to  Barry's  with  William  B.  Fasig  as  his 
guest.  It  was  Fasig's  first  visit  to  New  York,  and  that 
he  was  initiated  into  the  ways  of  the  road  is  evidenced 
by  what  he  told  S.  Freeman  over  a  mint  julep  .at 
Benny sclifYe  in  the  fall  of  1901. 

"On  my  first  visit  to  New  York  I  had  a  ride  with 
Shepard  F.  Knapp,  who  died  on  Christmas  day  in  1886, 
behind  his  famous  team  that  he  afterward  sold  to  Charles 
Schwartz,  of  Chicago.  They  were  the  best  on  the  road, 
and  how  Mr.  Knapp,  who  was  acknowledged  to  be  one 
of  the  best  team  drivers  in  America,  could  pilot  them ! 
We  drove  into  'Barry's.'  This  was  at  the  time  of  the 
Vanderbilt-Work  rivalry,  when  the  followers  of  Vander- 
bilt  took  one  end  of  the  room  and  those  of  Work  the  other. 
From  there  we  went  to  Gabe  Case's,  across  the  river,  and 
what  a  night  we  spent !  The  last  I  remember  was  seeing 
John  Murphy  ride  the  Kerry  cow  into  the  barroom.  I 
awoke  in  my  room  at  the  old  St.  James,  and  I  knew  I  had 
been  out  for  a  ride.  Another  incident  of  the  trip  I  remem- 
ber well :  Mr.  Freeman  owned  the  fine  and  fast  little 
gelding  Star,  2:25^4,  by  Aberdeen,  that  Billy  Weeks 
campaigned  the  summer  before.  He  also  owned  Stilletto, 
one  that  could  outbrush  Star.  Capt.  Jake  Vanderbilt  had 
a  bay  named  Boston,  Dan  Mace  a.  horse  called  Bill  Thun- 
der; a  man  named  Akins  had  a  fast  mare  of  great  repu- 


SEALSKIN     BRIGADE.  69 

tation  on  the  roads,  by  some  Clay  horse;  Capt.  Jack 
Dawson  had  his  old  black  mare  that  could  hold  her  own 
in  any  company,  and  three  or  four  others  whose  names  I 
do  not  recall ;  all  trotters,  not  a  pacer  on  the  road  in  those 
days  on  your  life.  Well,  this  crowd  headed  into  the  park, 
going-  down  town.  Capt.  Jack  Dawson  was  then  super- 
intendent, or  something,  of  the  parks,  and  we  cut  loose. 
The  sleighing  was  prime  and  we  went  a  merry  clip.  I 
was  driving  Stilletto.  One  policeman  after  another 
rushed  out  to  stop  us,  when  Capt.  Jack  would  yell  at 
them,  and  they'd  touch  their  hats  and  retire,  so  the  race 
was  fast  and  furious.  The  Clay  mare  led  at  the  end  of 
the  brush,  Capt.  Jake  Vanderbilt  was  second  with  Bos- 
ton, I  was  at  his  necktie  with  Stilletto,  while  Mace,  Daw- 
son, Freeman  and  the  others  were  close  up  in  a  bunch. 
It  was  gay  sport,  that ;  sleighing  through  the  park  under 
the  protection  of  its  boss,  the  big-hearted  Jack  Dawson, 
who  was  a  power  in  those  days.  Seems  to  me  that  folks 
had  more  fun  then.  It  was  the  time  of  the  'sealskin 
brigade,'  when  the  powerful  were  Americans,  practiced 
American  ways,  drove  American  trotters  and  were  proud 
to  be  Americans.  No  perching  up  on  an  eighteen-foot 
high  cart,  holding  the  lines  against  one's  bay  window, 
driving  a  mutilated  horse  that  couldn't  do  fast  enough 
time  for  a  funeral  from  a  workhouse.  I  may  be  a  bit  old 
fogyish  for  these  new  fangled  notions,  but  I  can't  help  it." 
While  on  this  trip  William  B.  Fasig  made  his  first 
appearance  as  a  delegate  at  a  Congress  of  The  National 
Trotting  Association.  He  did  not  take  an  active  part  in 
the  proceedings.  A  short  time  after  his  return  home, 
Fasig  was,  on  the  suggestion  of  Colonel  Edwards  and 
W.  J.  Gordon,  employed  by  the  representatives  of  the 
estate  of  H.  B.  Hurlburt  to  dispose  of  his  stable  of  road 


70  MEMOIR. 

horses  and  equipment.  He  decided  to  sell  the  horses  at 
auction,  and  fixed  May  7  as  the  date  of  sale.  On  April 
19,  1884,  William  B.  Fasig  made  his  first  announcement 
as  a  sale  manager,  the  following  four-inch  single-column 
advertisement  appearing  in  the  columns  of  the  "Spirit  of 
the  Times"  of  that  date: 


TROTTERS 

Under  the  Hammer. 

The  representatives  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Hon. 
H.  B.  Hurlbut  having  placed  in  my  hands  for  disposal 
his  fast  Road  Horses,  Wagons,  Harnesses,  etc.,  I  will 
sell  them  at  auction,  at  the  track  of  the  Cleveland 
Driving  Park  Company,  Cleveland,  O., 

Wednesday,  May  7,  1884, 

Commencing  at  11  A.  M.  SHARP. 

LYSANDER  BOY,  ....     Record  2:20^ 

SMALL  HOPES, '*        2:26^ 

BLUE  MARE, "        2:23 

ALECK  S "        2:28>( 

SQUIRREL Trial  2:25 

NEVA, .    *«      2:29 

STAR '      2:35 

Sale  positive,  to  close  the  estate.  No  reserve  or  by- 
bidding. 

In  addition  to  above,  there  will  also  be  sold 

From  Ten  to  Fifteen 
OTHER  TROTTERS, 

with  speed  from  2:25  to  2:50, 

among  them  some  young  and  handsome  horses  that 
beat  2:30  under  the  watch. 
Send  for  catalogue.     Address 

WM.  B.  FASIG, 
Secretary  Cleveland  Driving  Park. 

In  the  same  issue  the  Cleveland  sale  was  favored  with 
the  following  reading  notice,  which  was,  so  far  as  appear- 
ances go,  except  the  clause  designated  by  quotation 
marks,  written  by  Fasig : 


fasig's  first  sale.  71 

TROTTERS  UNDER  THE  HAMMER. 


"The  so-called  trotters  advertised  and  lauded  in  the 
daily  papers  are  subjects  of  disappointment  to  the  pur- 
chasers, who  are  made  to  believe  almost  anything  in  the 
way  of  speed,  by  fellows  who  will  undertake  to  prove 
that  "two  tortoises  can  run  faster  than  a  stag."  It  will 
be  refreshing  to  sufferers  at  the  hands  of  such  worthies, 
as  well  as  others  seeking  genuine  trotters,  to  attend  the 
auction  sale,  at  the  track  of  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park 
Company,  near  Cleveland,  O.,  on  Wednesday,  May  7, 
commencing  at  11  a.  m.  This  sale  has  been  brought 
about  by  the  death  of  the  late  Hon.  H.  B.  Hurlburt,  and 
the  representatives  of  his  estate  have  employed  "the  con- 
scientious horseman  and  excellent  judge,  Mr."  Wm.  B. 
Fasig,  to  sell  all  the  fast  road-horses  and  driving  para- 
phernalia, which  the  deceased  millionaire  had  accumu- 
lated, regardless  of  cost.  The  list  of  trotters  to  be  sold, 
without  reserve  or  by-bidding,  comprises  the  tested  track, 
road,  and  pole  horses,  Lysander  Boy,  2  '.20^4,  double-team 
record  2:20;  Small  Hopes,  2:26^2,  exhibition  mile,  with 
Lady  Mac,  2  123,  driven  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Vanderbilt ;  Blue 
Mare,  2  123  ;  Aleck  S.,  2  128^4  ;  Squirrel,  trial  2  125  ;  Neva, 
2:29;  Star,  2:35.  In  addition  to  the  above,  a  further 
field  of  choice  will  be  thrown  open  to  buyers,  in  the  shape 
of  from  ten  to  fifteen  other  trotters,  possessing  speed  from 
2  125  to  2  :5c  A  young  and  handsome  lot.  Some  of 
them  can  beat  2  130  under  the  watch.  Send  for  catalogue 
to  Wm.  B.  Fasig,  Secretary,  Driving  Park,  Cleveland, 
Ohio." 

In  order  to  complete  the  record,  the  following  report 
of  the  sale  is  taken  from  the  columns  of  the  "Spirit  of 
the  Times"  for  May  18,  1884: 


72  MEMOIR. 

W.  B.  FASIG'S  SALE. 

This  sale  took  place  on  the  7th  inst..  at  the  Cleveland,  O., 
Driving  Park.  F.  Herdic  officiated  as  auctioneer  and  David 
Muckle  showed  the  horses  to  the  best  advantage. 

Squirrel,  b.  g.   (reported  time  2:2s),  by  American  Ethan. 

L.  W.  Sanford.  Niles,  O  $  575 

Small   Hopes,  br.   g.,  2:2614 ,   by  Rysdyk's   Hambletonian, 

dam  unknown.     Eli  Yager,  Wilkesbarre,  Pa 490 

Blue  Mare,  rn.   m.,  2:23,  by  Wood's  Hambletonian,  dam 

by  Potter's  Clay.     W.  J.  Gordon,  Cleveland.  O   650 

Quaker  Girl,  ch.  m.,  by  Hailstorm,  dam  by  Independence. 

T.  Axworthy,  Cleveland,  O 830 

Alex  S.,  rn.  g.,  2:28^ ,  by  Gurney,  dam  unknown.     J.  W. 

Harrison,  Fremont,  O 410 

Neva,  ch.  m.,  trial  2:29  (with  colt  at  foot  by  Nugget),  by 
a  son  of  Gen.  Knox.     James  McCrea,  Cleveland,  O  ....       660 

Star,  br.  g.,  trial  2:35.     R.  M.  Freeman,  Cleveland,  O....       725 

Ly sander  Boy,  ch.  g.,  2:20^4,  by  Lysander,  dam  by  Wine- 
creek  Black  Hawk.     C.  J.  Clark,  Pittsburg,  Pa 1600 

The  above  animals,  the  property  of  the  Hurlbut  estate, 
brought  $5,930,  an  average  of  $741.25. 

The  following,  owned  by  various  persons,  were  also  sold: 

Lambert  Boy,  b.  g  .  by  Daniel  Lambert.     H.  Darlington, 

Pittsburg,  Pa $1000 

Edward  S.,  b.  g.,  by  a  son  of  Gen.  Knox.     H.  Darlington, 

Pittsburg,  Pa 1450 

Silvermount,  b.  m.     Fred  Leffler,  Canton,  0 190 

Grayling,  gr.  m.,  by  Ned  Hunter.     John  Morgan,  Mercer. 

Pa 400 

Little  Dart,   br.   m.,   by  Daniel   Lambert.     John   Morgan, 

Mercer,  Pa 250 

Lucy  C,  ch.  m.,  2:30,  by  Hotspur,  dam  unknown.     Thomas 

Heller,  Massillon,  O  475 

Charley  Tucker,  blk.  g.  (pacer).     J.  F.  Rust,  Cleveland,  O       315 

Sister  Easter,  b.  m.,  by  Messenger  Duroc.     W.  J.  Gordon, 

Cleveland,  O 320 

Patrol,  b.  s.,  by  Florida,  dam  by  Jupiter.     Robert  Lowe, 

Medina,  O 300 

Joker,  b.  g.,  2:22^2,  by  Parrish  Hambletonian,  dam  by 
Andrus'  Hambletonian  (nominal  sale).  Dave  Muckle, 
Cleveland,  O 200 


MAUD   S.,    2:09^.  73 

Burt  Sheldon,  br.  g.     M.  Glocker,  New  York $1000 

Highlander,  b.  s.     J.  Gallagher,  Elmira,  N.  Y 195 

Thistlebloom.     W.  J.  Gordon 320 

Six  others  sold  for  $805,  the  twenty-seven  realizing  $7,270, 
an  average  of  $269.26. 

By  changing  the  world's  record  to  2:09^4,  Maud  S. 
saved  the  Cleveland  meeting  of  1884  from  being  placed 
in  the  ordinary  list.  It  was  the  intention  of  William  H. 
Vanderbilt  to  start  her  against  her  record,  and  at  the 
same  time  be  prepared  to  defend  her  laurels  from  the 
attacks  of  Jay  Eye  See,  but,  before  she  had  a  chance  to 
take  the  word,  the  Dictator  gelding  turned  Narragansett 
Park  in  2:10.  The  news  reached  Cleveland  on  the  sec- 
ond day  of  the  meeting  and,  when  announced  by  Colonel 
Edwards,  it  was  received  with  cheers  and  shouts  to 
"bring  out  Maud  S."  She  came  out  to  bridle  and  was 
greeted  with  applause  as  Grant  led  her  by  the  stand.  At 
the  same  time  it  was  announced  that  she  would  be  started 
the  following  day  to  reduce  the  mark  made  at  Providence. 
As  stated  above,  Maud  S.  trotted  in  2:09^4.  The  timers 
were  David  Bonner,  John  Cummings  and  William  B. 
Fasig.  Mr.  Bonner  made  it  2:09^4,  Mr.  Fasig  made  it 
2:09^4,  and  Mr.  Cummings  2:093/2.  She  was  given  the 
time  of  the  slowest  watches,  the  fractional  time  for  the 
mile  being  132^4,  1:0434,  1:3634,  2:09^4.  Her  driver, 
W.  W.  Bair,  described  the  mile  as  follows  to  a  represen- 
tative of  the  "Spirit  of  the  Times": 

"Now  as  to  our  movements  after  I  got  on  the  sulky. 
You  saw  I  jogged  her  the  reverse  way  of  the  track  and 
opened  her  up  from  the  quarter  pole.  As  she  moved  past 
the  grand  stand  I  saw  she  was  a  great  mare,  and  said  to 
myself,  'You  are  yourself  to-day.'  Then  I  jogged  her  to 
the  head  of  the  stretch  and  turned  her  slowlv  around  as 


74  MEMOIR. 

her  custom  is  when  about  to  do  a  great  mile.  She  stood 
a  moment  or  two  and  walked,  say  50  yards,  and  then  she 
started  up  of  her  own  accord,  and  seemed  to  say,  'Now 
let  me  go ;  I  see  all  the  people,  and  will  show  them  some- 
thing they  never  saw  before.'  It  does  appear  as  if  a 
public  day  and  big  crowd  stirred  her  up  to  do  or  die,  for 
she  did  just  break  loose  herself.  I  did  not  mean  to  give 
her  such  a  long  score,  but  then  she  was  so  willing  I  hated 
to  bother  her,  so  away  we  went  on  the  first  score.  As  we 
passed  the  wire  she  was  going  just  about  right.  I  coaxed 
her  back  a  little,  and  at  the  quarter  noted  we  were  going 
at  the  rate  of  2:11  ;  fast  enough.  I  chirped  to  her  once 
just  after  we  left  the  quarter,  as  I  desired  to  get  to  the 
half  in  1  104.  I  got  there  in  1  -.04 V^.  Along  the  back- 
stretch  I  met  Hayes  with  Catchfly,  and  hailed  him  with 
a  'How  do  you  like  that  movement  ?'  for  we  were  sailing. 
He  seemed  astonished,  and  afterwards  told  the  boys  I 
was  going  easy.  I  aimed  to  reach  the  three-quarter  pole 
in  1  136,  and  then  we  would  have  33^  seconds  to  come 
home  in.  She  entered  the  homestretch  very  resolute,  and 
at  the  bend  spurted,  but  did  not  carry  it  quite  to  the  wire ; 
then  I  tapped  her  lightly  with  the  whip,  and  asked  her 
for  one  more  effort.  She  finished  without  lifting,  shak- 
ing or  swerving,  and  I  stopped  my  watch  under  the  wire 
in  2  :09  3-5.  Here  it  is ;  I've  not  started  it  since.  That's 
all." 

On  referring  to  the  report  of  this  meeting  it  will  be 
found  that  Crit  Davis  won  the  2:17  class  with  Phil 
Thompson  and  the  2:19  class  with  Maud  Messenger. 
Each  race  was  won  in  straight  heats,  and  both  of  the 
winners  were  marked  2\i6l/2.  The  Red  Wilkes  gelding 
defeated  Edwin  Thorne,  Phyllis,  and  Clemmie  G.,  and 
was  expected  to  show  well,  but  Maud  Messenger  was  not 


A   RINGER.  75 

looked  for,  Catchfly  being  the  choice.  The  other  winners 
during  the  week  were  Belle  F.,  Zoe  B.,  both  of  which 
trotted  their  races  in  the  mud;  Lorene,  Harry  Wilkes, 
Richhall,  St.  Albans  and  Nobby,  Splan  getting  first 
money  with  the  last  named  after  a  seven-heat  dispute  with 
Felix,  Florence  M.  and  Secret. 

The  first  "ringer"  ever  seen  at  the  mile  track  in  Cleve- 
land scored  for  the  word  in  the  first  race  at  the  fall  meet- 
ing in  1884.  When  the  entries  were  sorted,  Secretary 
Fasig  found  one  for  a  black  mare  named  Baby  Mine,  in 
the  three-minute  trot.  She  was  represented  as  being  by 
Lambert  Chief.  The  entry  was  signed  P.  Hinchey,  Oil 
City,  Pa.,  and  postmarked  Boston,  Mass.  Advice  was 
received  by  local  parties  to  follow  the  play  of  Eli  Ager, 
and  when  the  betting  began  on  the  three-minute  class 
Baby  Mine  was  the  choice.  This,  with  the  fact  that  the 
man  in  charge  of  the  mare  was  not  certain  as  to  his  own 
name  or  the  name  of  the  man  he  was  working  for,  caused 
suspicion  to  fall  on  Baby  Mine,  and,  as  might  be  expected, 
she  was  protested  by  Charles  Frost,  of  Cambridge  City, 
Ind.,  the  owner  of  Lena  Swallow,  one  of  the  nine  starters 
in  the  same  race.  When  the  word  was  given  Lady  Cleve- 
land stepped  out  and  won  two  heats,  Baby  Mine  finishing 
4-2.  On  the  next  trip  Lena  Swallow  finished  in  front, 
with  Baby  Mine  second.  The  Judges  saw  that  the  man 
who  represented  himself  as  P.  Hinchey,  of  Turners,  An- 
droscoggin County,  Maine,  was  not  trying  to  win  with 
Baby  Mine,  so  they  put  up  Volney  French.  He  won  in 
short  order  in  2  \2yy2,  2  :2&%,  2  132^,  the  time  in  the  first 
heat  being,  as  it  was  eventually  shown,  three-quarters  of 
a  second  faster  than  the  record  of  the  mare  under  her 
true  name.  Through  confidential  sources  Colonel  Ed- 
wards  learned  that  the  true   name   of  Babv   Mine  was 


76  MEMOIR. 

Minnie  Moulton,  owned  by  John  Goodwin,  Lawrence, 
Mass.,  and  that  the  name  of  the  driver  was  James  L. 
Keene.  In  order  to  complete  the  identification,  The  Na- 
tional Trotting  Association  employed  Captain  W.  H. 
Boyce,  who  was  then  located  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  to  go  to 
New  England  and  locate  the  mare,  she  having  been 
shipped  to  New  York  the  day  after  her  race  at  Cleveland. 
He  found  her  at  Lawrence,  Mass.,  and  traced  her  to 
Beacon  Park,  where  she  was  entered  to  start  in  the  2  \2J 
class  October  9.  A  short  time  before  the  race  was  called 
a  closed  carriage  drove  up  to  the  rail  near  the  distance, 
and,  as  the  horses  scored,  had  any  one  been  watching  the 
carriage  they  would  have  seen  William  B.  Fasig's  face 
at  the  window.  Nothing  was  said  until  after  the  heat, 
which  was  won  by  Arthur,  \Y.  K.  second  and  Minnie 
Moulton  third.  When  the  announcement  was  made, 
Secretary  Fasig  and  Captain  Boyce  were  at  the  Judges' 
stand.  Minnie  Moulton's  driver,  James  L.  Keene,  asked 
for  permission  to  draw  her.  The  request  was  complied 
with  and  Minnie  Moulton,  alias  Baby  Mine,  retired  from 
the  turf.  A  few  days  later  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park 
Company  issued  an  order  of  expulsion  against  her,  as 
well  as  her  driver,  James  L.  Keene,  alias  Pat  Hinchey; 
her  owner,  John  Goodwin,  Lawrence,  Mass.,  and  L.  B. 
Goodrich,  Bradford,  Pa.,  who  was  implicated  in  the  trans- 
action. 

At  this  meeting  Glenview  Farm  also  made  its  first 
step  towards  bringing  a  few  of  the  colt  records  back  to 
Kentucky  from  California,  its  first  banner  bearer  being 
the  black  mare  Elvira,  by  Cuyler,  out  of  Mary  Mambrino 
by  Mambrino  Patchen.  On  the  opening  day  of  the  meet- 
ing she  defeated  Loretta  F.  in  the  2  '.27  class,  trotting  a 
fourth  heat  in  2  123,  and,  as  George  Fuller  knew  she  could 


A    RACE     TO    WAGON.  li 

go  faster,  he  started  her  three  days  later  against  2:18^4, 
the  four-year-old  record  of  the  world,  held  by  Bonita. 
Her  first  trial  was  finished  in  2:195^,  but  on  the  second 
attempt  Elvira  earned  a  record  of  2  :i&l/2.  This  filly  was 
a  sister  to  Beatrice,  the  dam  of  Patron,  Prodigal  and  Pat- 
ronage, the  sire  of  Alix,  2  103^  ;  while,  after  being  retired 
to  the  stud  on  account  of  blindness,  she  produced 
Ponce  de  Leon.  On  the  same  afternoon  Fuller  also  gave 
the  yearling  colt  Nutbreaker,  bv  Nutwood,  a  record  of 
2  146,  and  trotted  second  to  Jim  Schriber  in  the  2  -.23  class 
with  Algath.  The  other  events  at  this  meeting  were  won 
by  Mambrinette,  Uncle  Ned,  Jim  Early  and  Oliver  K., 
the  King  Wilkes  gelding  getting  a  record  of  2:24^  in  a 
six-heat  race,  in  which  he  defeated  Darkness,  Lena  Swal- 
low, Homewood,  Gladys,  G.  E.  B.,  Faro  and  Adam 
Beebe.  W.  B.  Fasig  started  the  black  gelding  Boston 
Davis  in  the  race  won  by  Jim  Early,  and  drew  him  after 
finishing  sixth  in  the  first  heat.  At  this  date  the  black 
gelding  had  a  record  of  2:34,  and  could  beat  it,  but  he 
was  also  as  notorious  a  puller  as  Captain  McGown,  of 
twenty-miles-in-an-hour  fame.  In  November,  1901, 
three  months  before  he  died,  William  B.  Fasig  related  the 
following  incident  in  connection  with  the  ownership  of 
Boston  Davis,  to  S.  Freeman,  who  incorporated  it  in  an 
article  that  appeared  in  the  Christmas  number  of  "The 
Horse  Review". 

"Col.  Wm.  Edwards,  one  of  the  dearest  men  that  ever 
lived,  was  President  of  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park,  and 
I  the  Secretary.  There  was  hot  rivalry  between  us.  He 
had  an  elegant  bay  mare  named  Faith,  which  he  thought 
could  beat  the  Boston  Davis  family.  The  feeling  was 
at  fever  heat,  and  one  day  it  culminated,  after  a  heated 
argument,  in  a  match  to  wagon.     The  Colonel's  son  Clar- 


78  MEMOIR. 

ence,  now  a  gallant  officer  in  the  army,  then  home  from 
West  Point  on  a  furlough,  drove  Faith,  while  your  hum- 
ble servant  piloted  the  Boston  Davis  horse.  The  Colonel 
and  Clarence  were  so  sure  of  winning  that  they  notified 
the  swelldom  of  Cleveland  about  the  match,  and  almost 
all  the  handsome  young  ladies  of  Euclid  Avenue's  four 
hundred  were  on  deck  pulling  for  Clarence,  as  he  was  a 
fine-looking  young  fellow,  while  I — well,  we  won't  dis- 
cuss that.  Singularly  enough,  the  men  were  for  'Benny,' 
but  the  women  were  for  Clarence. 

"My  horse  had  a  fashion  of  going  away  fast  until  he 
hit  the  back  stretch,  and  then  slowing  up  until  he  rounded 
into  the  homestretch,  when  he'd  come  again  and  trot  a 
whirlwind  to  the  wire.  He  did  so  in  that  race.  I  was 
in  the  lead  at  the  quarter-pole  when  my  opponent  closed 
up,  and  it  really  looked  as  if  I  was  beaten.  Mr.  Edwards 
stood  in  the  stand  shouting :  'Clarence  has  got  him, 
Clarence  has  got  him !' 

"John  D.  Rockefeller  and  W.  J.  Gordon,  who  were 
among  the  spectators  and  on  my  side,  said  afterward 
that  they  thought  it  was  all  over.  But  Clarence  didn't 
'have  him,'  for  Boston  Davis  took  more  wind  in  his  sail 
at  the  three-quarter  pole  and  beat  Faith  through  the 
stretch  in  fine  style.  I  was  more  unpopular  with  those 
handsome  young  ladies  than  ever,  one  remarking,  'I'd 
like  to  stick  a  hair-pin  in  that  odious  fat  man  driving  the 
ugly  black  horse.'  " 

Encouraged  by  the  success  of  the  sale  held  in  con- 
nection with  the  Hurlburt  horses  in  1884,  William  B. 
Fasig  decided  to  hold  another  in  r885,  and  selected  May 
14  and  15  for  the  venture.  J.  B.  Perkins,  W.  J.  Gordon, 
J.  W.  Pritz  and  D.  M.  Marsh  sent  small  consignments, 
and  when  John  Rush  called  for  bids  there  were  about 


A    BATTLE    FOR    THE    THRONE.  79 

seventy-five  head  catalogued,  this  list  including  Ina  G., 
2  :2^l/2  ;  Lady  Clark,  2  \2jy2  ;  Whirlwind,  2  124 ;  Blue 
Mare,  2  123 ;  Molly  Kistler,  and  that  grand  old-time  pacer 
Sorrel  Dan,  2  114.  A  few  of  the  fast  ones  failed  to  appear, 
the  most  noted  absentees  being  Lady  Clark,  who  after- 
wards produced  Hettiemont,  2:16%,  and  Pattie  Clark, 
2:17*4;  but  when  the  returns  were  all  in  it  was  found 
that  sixty-five  head  had  been  sold  for  $23,947,  the  top 
figure,  $1,620,  being  paid  for  Ina  G.,  while  Myrtella  G. 
sold  for  $1,100  and  Aleck  L.  for  $1,010.     • 

In  1876,  on  the  last  day  of  August,  Smuggler,  in  the 
first  heat  of  his  memorable  race  with  Goldsmith  Maid  at 
Hartford,  placed  the  stallion  record  at  2:15^4,  and  it  re- 
mained there  until  July  14,  1884,  when  Phallas  created  a 
commotion  by  trotting  a  fourth  heat  at  Chicago  in  2:13^, 
a  mark  which  he  equalled  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  on  the 
day  his  stable  companion,  Jay  Eye  See,  reduced  the 
world's  record  for  trotters  to  2:10,  and  which  stood  as 
his  mark  when  retired  from  the  turf.  Another  star  ap- 
peared on  the  horizon  at  Narragansett  Park  on  the  after- 
noon that  the  Hickory  Grove  Farm  stable  was  bidding 
for  the  world's  record.  He  was  also  started  to  reduce 
the  stallion  record,  but  failed,  his  fastest  mile  being  trot- 
ted in  2  115^ .  That  horse  was  Maxie  Cobb,  and  his  flight 
of  speed  encouraged  John  Murphy  to  go  on  with  him. 
At  Hartford,  August  28,  Murphy  drove  the  handsome 
son  of  Happy  Medium  in  2:15,  and  on  September  30 
crowned  him  king  of  stallions  by  the  record,  with  a  mile  in 
2:I3/4>  at  Providence.  During  the  winter  months  the 
racing  qualities  of  the  two  stallions  were  discussed  very 
freely  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other,  and  when 
the  warm  weather  stirred  their  respective  owners'  racing 
blood  the  pair  were  matched  for  $10,000,  to  trot  at  Cleve- 


80  MEMOIR. 

land,  July  4,  1885.  In  handling  this  race  William  B.  Fasig 
first  demonstrated  his  skill  as  an  advertiser.  By  the  time 
the  bell  rang  he  had  all  northern  Ohio  up  and  going, 
every  other  holiday  entertainment  being  cast  aside  for 
a  trip  to  Glenville  to  witness  what  he  termed  "3.  battle  for 
the  throne."  The  attendance  was  placed  at  twelve  thou- 
sand, which  was  more  than  could  be  well  taken  care  of 
at  that  time.  They  saw  a  heat  and  a  half  and  were  satis- 
fied. In  the  preliminary  jogging  Maxie  Gobb  looked 
every  inch  a  king.  He  filled  the  eye  as  he  swept  by,  while 
Phallas,  white  with  foam,  had  little  to  commend  him  to 
those  who  build  on  appearances.  As  for  the  race,  Phallas 
was  never  headed  after  he  took  the  pole  on  the  turn.  The 
fractional  time  for  the  first  heat  was  35,  3334 ,  32^4«  33- 
This  made  the  middle  half  1  :o6  and  the  mile  2  114,  which 
equalled  the  track's  race  record  for  trotters,  made  by 
Clingstone  in  his  contest  with  Edwin  Thorne..  Phallas 
won  by  half  a  length,  both  horses  being  under  the  whip. 
In  the  second  heat  the  pair  were  lapped  at  the  half  in 
1  :o6,  the  quarters  having  been  trotted  in  33^,  32^4  sec- 
onds respectively.  As  they  swung  around  the  turn  Maxie 
Cobb  gave  it  up,  while  Phallas  went  on  and  won  the  heat 
as  he  pleased  by  two  lengths,  in  2:1534.  The  third  heat 
was  only  a  matter  of  form,  Phallas  winning  it  in  2  \2oY\. 
In  1884,  after  Maud  S.  reduced  her  record  to  2:0934, 
Colonel  Edwards,  as  President  of  the  Cleveland  Driving 
Park,  sent  the  following  despatch  to  her  owner : 

Race  Track,  Cleveland,  O.,  Aug.  2.  18S4. 
William  H.  Vanderbilt, 

Saratoga,  N.  Y.: 
Allow  me  to  congratulate  you.     Maud  S.  still  reigns  supreme. 
Her  record  is  2:09^  on  a  slow  track.     Before  ordering  her  home 
come  and  see  her  trot  a  mile  in  2:07  or  2:08.     We  are  all  happy. 

Wm.  Edwards. 


MAUD    S.,    2:o8^.  81 

On  the  fourth  day  of  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in 
1885,  Colonel  Edwards  had  occasion  to  send  another 
despatch  on  the  same  subject.    It  read  as  follows : 

Race  Track,  Cleveland,  O.,  July  30,  1885. 
Robert  Bonner, 

New  York,  N.  Y.: 
The  Cleveland  Association  congratulates  you  most  heartily 
and  thanks  you  most  sincerely  for  allowing  your  peerless  queen, 
Maud  S.,  to  show  the  people  how  easily  she  beat  her  record  in  the 
wonderful  time  of2:o834,on  a  track  certainly  one  second  slow, 
having  had  a  hard  rain  at  midnight. 

Wm.  Edwards,  President. 

In  the  year  that  had  elapsed  between  the  two  record- 
breaking  miles,  Maud  S.  was  sold  by  William  H.  Van- 
derbilt  to  Robert  Bonner  for  $40,000,  and  she  had  also 
cut  her  record  from  2  :09^J  to  2  109^  in  a  trip  against 
time  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  on  November  11,  Woodburn 
Farm  having  given  a  cup  for  the  performance  in  order  to 
make  the  time  a  record,  no  admission  being  charged  at 
the  gate.  In  the  season  of  1885  Maud  S.  was,  at  the  re- 
quest of  Colonel  Edwards,  sent  to  Cleveland  for  a  su- 
preme effort,  and  his  telegram  shows  what  occurred.  It 
may  also  be  added  that  during  the  greater  part  of  the  day 
both  Bair  and  Robert  Bonner's  representatives  hesitated 
about  starting  the  mare  on  account  of  the  condition  of 
the  track.  There  had  been  a  heavy  shower  during  the 
night',  and  under  such  conditions  a  clay  track  does  not 
dry  out  very  rapidly.  Aside  from  the  footing  being  soft 
on  the  first  turn,  the  day  was  perfect,  and,  as  Secretary 
Fasig  was  confident  that  Maud  S.  was  in  shape  to  reduce 
her  record,  he  gave  Bair  no  rest  until  the  mare  was 
hitched  and  on  the  track.  The  following  is  the  report  of 
the  performance  as  furnished  the  "Turf,  Field  and  Farm" 
by  Hamilton  Busbey : 


82  MEMOIR. 

"At  a  quarter- past  five  Bair  came  on  the  track  behind 
Maud  S.  He  wore  a  Derby  hat,  and  it  was  announced 
that  the  queen  would  be  driven  a  warming-up  mile. 
Cheer  after  cheer  greeted  the  chestnut  mare  as  she 
walked  slowly  past  the  crowded  stands.  She  went 
the  reverse  way  of  the  track,  then  turned  and  broke  into  a 
vigorous  jog.  The  watches  were  started  on  her,  and  the 
circuit  was  timed  in  2  128^4.  She  was  taken  to  the  stable 
and  rubbed  down,  and  at  six  o'clock,  when  the  flags  were 
hanging  motionless,  the  shout  went  up,  "Bring  out  Maud 
S.  We  want  to  go  home."  The  scraper  was  run  around 
the  track,  and  the  footing  looked  better  next  the  rail, 
although  it  was  conceded  by  critics  not  to  be  the  best. 
The  first  turn,  especially,  was  damp  and  cuppy.  Bair 
now  appeared  behind  the  mare  in  full  jockey  suit,  and 
his  face  was  pale  and  anxious.  The  queen  stepped  reso- 
lutely, and  each  outburst  of  applause  caused  her  to  merely 
prick  up  her  ears.  Having  reigned  so  long,  the  cheers 
of  the  multitude  did  not  excite  her.  She  had  grown  used 
to  them.  No  pools  were  sold,  but  the  private  offers  that 
the  record  would  not  be  lowered  found  no  takers.  Fred 
Bonner  himself  had  telegraphed  his  father  that  he  did 
not  believe  there  was  one  chance  in  ten  of  beating  2  109^4. 
After  a  slow  jog  the  reverse  way  of  the  track,  Bair  went 
to  the  head  of  the  stretch,  where  Splan,  with  Mr.  Gor- 
don's running  horse  Dart,  harnessed  to  sulky,  was  wait- 
ing for  him,  and,  starting  up  the  mare,  came  strongly  to 
the  stand.  He  nodded  for  the  word,  Mr.  Thomas  Ax- 
worthy shouted  "Go!"  and  hundreds  of  watches  began 
to  register  the  flying  feet.  The  pace  was  fast,  and  Splan 
drew  a  little  too  close  around  the  turn.  The  rush  of  the 
running  horse  and  the  cuppy  condition  of  the  soil  made 
the  queen  forget  herself,  and  she  sprawled  into  the  air. 


A    2:04   GAIT.  83 

The  I-told-you-so  fellows  swelled  with  importance,  while 
the  anxious  friends  of  the  great  trotter  felt  as  if  they  had 
been  called  to  a  funeral.  Bair  pulled  the  mare  up,  and 
came  back  with  paler  face,  because  he  knew  that  one  of 
his  three  chances  under  the  rule  had  been  sacrificed.  Go- 
ing to  the  head  of  the  stretch  again,  he  came  down  a  little 
slower  and  nodded  for  the  word.  The  plungers  struck 
and  the  hands  of  the  watches  re-commenced  the  steady, 
remorseless  journey  around  the  dials.  Splan  was  more 
cautious  with  his  runner,  and  the  turn  was  safely 
rounded,  but  the  critics  pronounced  the  pace  too  slow. 
In  the  straight  work  it  was  more  like  flying  than  trotting, 
and  the  hands  split  at  the  first  quarter  in  32^  seconds 
— a  2:11  gait.  Along  the  backstretch  the  old  scythe- 
bearer  was  tackled  in  awful  earnestness,  and  exclama- 
tions were  heard,  "See  her  go."  The  time  at  the  half- 
mile  pole  was  1  '.04^,  which  made  the  flight  of  the  second 
quarter  31%  seconds — a  2:07  gait.  The  terrific  contest 
against  the  swaggering  bully,  Time,  was  kept  up,  and 
fears  were  expressed  that  Bair  would  drive  the  mare  to  a 
break.  But  she  resolutely  held  her  course,  trotting  the 
third  quarter  in  31  seconds — a  2  -.04  gait,  and  making  the 
total  time  for  the  three  quarters  1  135^2.  Around  the 
upper  turn  Splan  drew  a  little  closer  with  Dart,  and  the 
cloud  of  suspense  deepened.  When  the  stretch  yawned 
broad  and  straight  before  the  peerless  chestnut,  she 
seemed  to  falter  and  the  cry  was  heard  from  excited 
watch-holders,  "Lift  her.  Come  on!"  With  rare  judg- 
ment Dart  was  brought  with  clattering  effort  still  closer 
to  her  who  was  fighting  so  earnestly  with  the  grim  and 
stalwart  giant,  and  at  the  same  instant  the  whip  fell 
sharply  on  her  shoulders.  The  brave  Boston  blood  in  the 
queen  was  aroused,  and  it  quickened  the  action  of  lagging 


84  MEMOIR. 

feet.  Under  the  wire  she  shot  with  a  do-or-die  rush,  the 
watches  stopped  and  the  crowd  held  its  breath.  The  pent- 
up  feeling  then  found  vent.  Cheer  followed  cheer,  and 
the  crowd  rushed  through  the  gates  and  fairly  blocked 
the  quarter  stretch.  With  difficulty  the  path  was  cleared 
for  the  mare,  who  walked  slowly  back  to  the  stand  with 
bowed  head  and  throbbing  flanks.  The  official  timers, 
Wm.  Edwards,  N.  L.  Hunting,  C.  F.  Emery  and  George 
AW  Short,  consulted  their  watches  and  unanimously 
agreed  that  the  record  had  been  broken.  I  looked  over 
their  shoulders  at  this  supreme  moment  and  noticed  that 
while  Mr.  Hunting's  fifth-second  watch  marked  2  :o8  4-5, 
the  others  were  full  2:08^4.  Leaning  over  the  stand 
President  Edwards  said :  "Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  am 
pleased  to  inform  you  that  on  a  track  which  the  directors 
do  not  consider  fast,  Maud  S.  has  trotted  and  made  a 
record  of  2  :o8^."  The  official  announcement  reawakened 
the  thunders  of  applause,  and  the  storm  did  not  abate 
when  a  rich  floral  collar,  from  the  garden  of  Mr.  Gordon, 
was  placed  on  the  neck  of  the  queen." 

To  commemorate  this  performance  the  Cleveland 
Driving  Park  Company  ordered  a  golden  horseshoe  to 
be  hung  in  the  arch  over  the  entrance  to  the  grounds  with 
the  words,  "Maud  S.,  2:08%,"  in  the  center  of  it.  It  is 
still  there  to  remind  all  race  goers  that  the  record  made 
July  30,  1885,  is  still  the  world's  record  to  a  high-wheel 
sulky  over  a  regulation  track,  and  it  is  liable  to  be  for  all 
time. 

The  2:16  trot  proved  the  best  race  at  the  Grand  Cir- 
cuit meeting  in  1885.  The  starters  were  Maud  Messen- 
ger, Clemmie  G.  and  Phyllis.  Wagner  had  his  big  mare 
in  good  fix  and  it  might  be  added  that  he  ordered  her 
according  to  his  own  idea.     He  hired  a  boat  and  every 


PHYLLIS    IN    LAKE    ERIE.  85 

morning  gave  Phyllis  a  swim  in  Lake  Erie.  She  came 
out  on  the  day  of  the  race  as  limber  as  an  eel  and  won 
after  losing  the  first  heat  in  2:17^4  t0  Clemmie  G.  by  a 
break  near  the  distance.  In  the  second  heat  Phyllis 
trotted  to  her  record  of  2:15^,  the  last  half  of  the  mile 
being' in  1  :o6%,  and  the  third  quarter  of  it  in  32^4  sec- 
onds. The  time  for  the  third  heat  was  2:16^4,  there  be- 
ing but  half  a  length  between  Phyllis  and  Clemmie  G.  at 
the  finish,  while  half  a  head  in  favor  of  Phyllis,  in  2  wjYiy 
was  the  way  they  finished  in  the  deciding  mile.  Dunbar 
drove  Clemmie  G.  with  commendable  skill,  but  he  could 
not  reach  the  Phil  Sheridan  mare.  During  the  meeting 
Dunbar  also  drove  Clingstone  a  mile  against  time,  equal- 
ing his  record  of  2:14,  and  that  "the  demon  trotter"  was 
as  fast,  if  not  faster,  than  at  any  time  in  his  career  was 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  checked  oft"  the  fourth  quar- 
ter in  32^4  seconds.  The  other  winners  at  the  meeting 
were  Beauregard,  Adelaide,  Harry  Roberts,  Gossip,  Jr.. 
William  Arthur,  Harry  Wilkes,  William  T.,  Joe  Davis, 
Maggie  G.  Middleton  and  Westmont,  while  on  the  open- 
ins:  dav  Almont  Gift  defeated  Mohawk  Gift  in  a  $2,000 
match  race  that  was  spun  out  to  five  heats  before  the 
judges  found  a  winner,  and  that  the  finding  of  the  Judges 
did  not  satisfy  the  owners  was  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
they  made  another  match  to  be  decided  at  the  fall  meet- 
ing, when  Mohawk  Gift  defeated  Almont  Gift  in  straight 
heats,  the  fastest  of  which  was  trotted  in  2:24^.  At 
this  fall  meeting  the  newly  organized  Ohio  Association 
of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders  gave  its  first  races,  the 
events  being  sandwiched  with  the  races  offered  by  the 
Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company.  The  stakes  of  the 
Breeders'  Association  were  won  by  Reveille,  Nettle  Leaf 
and  Heresv,  while  the  first  moneys  in  the  races  on  the 


86  MEMOIR. 

regular  programme  were  won  by  Whitesocks,  Little 
Mack,  Gladys,  Gray  Dave,  Lace  Dealer,  Mable  May,  Jes- 
sie B.,  Nobby  and  Harry  Wilkes.  In  the  pacing  race  Lit- 
tle Mack  defeated  Argyle,  Jordan,  Tommy  Lynn  and 
Conway  and  reduced  his  record  to  2:15,  while  in  the  free- 
for-all  Harry  Wilkes  stepped  around  the  track  three 
times  in  front  of  Glen  Miller  and  Belle  F.  in  2  :i8,  2  12454, 
2:18.  The  races  won  by  Gray  Dave  and  Nobby  were 
badly  mixed.  Eight  horses  took  the  word  in  the  2  125 
trot  and  eight  heats  were  trotted  before  Gray  Dave  won 
three,  the  other  heat  winners  being  Victor,  Tom  Allen 
and  Sentry.  In  the  2:21  class  Gus  Wilson  won  the  first 
heat  with  Nellie  G.  in  2:21.  The  second  was  declared 
dead  between  Nellie  G.  and  Onward  in  2:21.  The  race 
then  went  over  to  the  following  day,  when,  after  Albert 
France  had  won  a  heat  in  2  :20^4,  Nobby  gathered  in  the 
money  in  2  \20y2,  2  :2i,  2  :2i^. 

.  The  average  time  for  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in 
1885  was  2:19^4,  and  for  the  fall  meeting,  not  including 
the  stakes  offered  by  the  Breeders'  Association,  a  small 
fraction  over  2  -.26.  In  addition  to  the  events  named 
Cleveland  race  goers  also  witnessed  two  specials  during 
the  season  of  1885,  one  being  a  gate  money  race  between 
Harry  Wilkes  and  Phallas,  the  gelding  winning  in 
2:17%.,  2:20% j  2:193^2,  and  the  other  the  team  perform- 
ance of  Clingstone  and  Guy,  the  pair  being  driven  to  a 
record  of  2:17,  by  T.  J.  Dunbar.  This  was  the  first  pub- 
lic appearance  of  the  Kentucky  Prince  gelding  that  in 
time  became  as  notorious  for  his  antics  when  scoring,  and 
flights  of  extreme  speed,  as  his  mate  was  celebrated  for 
his  sterling  race  horse  qualities.  Guy  was  foaled  at  Stony 
Ford  in  1880.  He  was  a  small  rugged  looking  youngster 
when  he  was  with  a  batch  of  others  shipped  to  New  York 


AN    EXPENSIVE    WORK    OUT.  87 

to  be  sold  at  auction  on  October  24,  1882,  by  Peter  C. 
Kellogg  &  Co.  While  the  sale  was  in  progress  L.  D. 
Packer  directed  the  attention  of  J.  B.  Perkins,  of  Cleve- 
land, to  the  black  colt  by  Kentucky  Prince,  out  of  Flora 
Gardiner,  by  Seely's  American  Star,  and  backed  his  re- 
marks with  the  assurance  of  John  Hogan  that  he  was  the 
best  prospect  for  a  trotter  ever  foaled  on  the  farm.  When 
the  black  colt  was  led  out  Jacob  B.  Perkins  bought  him 
for  $460.  He  shipped  him  to  Cleveland  with  a  three- 
year-old  filly  by  Messenger  Duroc,  purchased  at  the  same 
sale,  and  wintered  him  at  the  Twin  Elm  Farm  on  Lake 
Avenue.  When  the  spring  came  the  colt  was,  on  account 
of  his  size,  gelded  and  broken  to  harness.  As  the  sum- 
mer days  were  being  marked  off  the  calendar,  stories  of 
the  fast  three-year-old  at  the  farm  on  Lake  Avenue  found 
their  way  across  the  Cuyahoga  River  and  finally  reached 
Glenville.  James  McKeever  was  training  him  on  the 
farm  track,  and  it  did  not  take  him  long  to  find  that  the 
Kentucky  Prince  gelding  was  a  star  in  embryo.  In  due 
time  the  youngster  was  named  Guy,  after  one  of  Mr.  Per- 
kins' boys,  and  taken  to  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park.  W. 
J.  Gordon  saw  him  step,  and  asked  for  a  price.  It  was 
$10,000.  After  a  little  sparring,  he  bought  him  for 
$6,000  with  the  understanding  that  he  would  pay  an  ad- 
ditional $4,000  if  Guy  should  beat  2  :20  as  a  four-year- 
old.  From  that  time  there  was  a  standing  order  that  Guy 
was  not  to  trot  better  than  2  :20,  while  it  was  understood 
about  the  track  that  the  first  man  who  caught  Guy  a  mile 
below  2  :20  would  get  a  new  suit  of  clothes.  Few  watches 
were  idle  when  Guy  was  being  worked  and  finally  one 
morning  "Tom"  McCabe  timed  him  in  2:19.  When 
speaking  of  it  he  said  that  Guy  was  jogged  to  the  half  in 
1  113  with  the  intention  of  letting  him  finish  at  speed,  and 


88  MEMOIR. 

to  the  surprise  of  everyone,  his  trainer  included,  he  broke 
away  and  trotted  the  last  half  in  I  :o6.  Mr.  Perkins  was 
notified.  McCabe  received  his  suit  of  clothes  and  W.  J. 
Gordon  paid  the  extra  $4,000. 

One  hundred  and  forty  of  what  Fasig  termed  "the 
fastest  and  best  horses  ever  offered  for  public  sale"  were 
in  the  catalogue  issued  for  the  "great  sale,"  May  12,  13 
and  14,  1886.  The  list  including  George  V.,  2  :20 ;  Tom 
Allen,  2  :22,  "the  handsomest  gentleman's  roadster  in  the 
United  States ;"  Tommy  Norwood,  2  :26*4  ;  King  Philip, 
2:21;  the  pacer,  Jack  Hart,  2:23^,  and  the  handsome 
pair  of  mares,  Fannie  Archer,  2  132^,  and  Gussie  Archer, 
2  133.  The  Archer  team  sold  for  $1,400,  and  Tom  Allen, 
although  twelve  years  old,  brought  $2,000,  the  high-water 
mark  for  the  week. 

Oliver  K.,  a  Forest  City  Farm  product,  was  the  star 
at  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1886.  He  started  in  a 
$5,000  guaranteed  stake,  and  won  in  commanding  style, 
his  mile  in  2:18  in  the  first  heat  equalling  the  record 
which  he  had  placed  after  his  name  at  Detroit  the  week 
prior  to  the  Cleveland  meeting.  This  success  was  the 
beginning  of  a  trip  down  the  line,  which  culminated  in  a 
victory  in  the  Charter  Oak  Stake  at  Hartford,  where, 
after  Belle  F.  had  placed  two  heats  in  2:15^4,  2:1^/4  to 
her  credit,  the  King  Wilkes  gelding  went  to  the  front  in 
2:16^4,  2:16^,  2:18.  In  addition  to  winning  at  the 
places  named,  Oliver  K.  also  won  his  Grand  Circuit  en- 
gagements at  Buffalo,  Rochester  and  Albany.  As  has 
been  stated,  Oliver  K.  was  bred  at  the  Forest  City  Farm. 
Like  many  another  good  horse  he  was  sold  as  a  colt  for 
a  trifle,  but  when  given  an  opportunity  he  proved  one  of 
the  best  horses  foaled  in  Ohio  and  a  worthy  successor  to 
Parana  and  Mattie  Hunter,  both  of  which  raced  success- 


BROWN  HAL  AND  PALO  ALTO.  89 

fully  for  C.  F.  Emery.  Two  stallions  that  were  destined 
to  earn  world-wide  fame  on  the  turf  and  in  the  stud  also 
won  races  at  the  Cleveland  meeting  in  1886.  Both  of 
them  in  turn  reduced  the  world's  record  for  stallions,  one 
at  the  pacing,  and  the  other  at  the  trotting  gait,  and  both 
of  them  sired  extreme  speed,  although  one  died 
in  his  prime.  They  were  Brown  Hal  and  Palo  Alto.  In 
1885  Brown  Hal  was  started  at  Cleveland  as  a  trotter  in 
the  race  won  by  William  T.  He  was  tenth  in  the  first 
heat  and  distanced  in  the  second.  This  showing  led  to  a 
change,  and  the  following  year  Brown  Hal  was  a  pacer. 
He  never  lost  a  race  at  that  gait.  In  1886  he  was  started 
at  Pittsburg,  Cleveland  and  Rochester,  where  he  won  a 
heat  in  2:17^.  In  1889  he  again  appeared  at  Cleveland 
in  a  race  with  Roy  Wilkes,  Jewett,  Bessemer  and  Gossip, 
Jr.  Brown  Hal's  feet  bothered  him  and  caused  disas- 
trous breaks,  but  he  finally  won  after  a  six-heat  contest 
in  which  Roy  Wilkes  cut  the  pacing  record  for  stallions 
to  2  113,  and  Brown  Hal  recovered  the  honors  in  the  next 
heat  with  a  mile  in  2  :i2^.  The  deciding  heat  in  the  race 
created  a  flutter  in  the  stands.  Brown  Hal  made  a  break 
going  away  and  appeared  to  be  a  double  distance  out 
when  the  field  swept  by  the  half.  As  it  was  a  case  of  life 
and  death  for  ''Old  Tennessee"  from  a  racing  standpoint, 
Geers  started  after  the  leaders.  He  soon  picked  up  the 
field,  but  was  unable  to  reach  Roy  Wilkes.  As  the  pair 
swept  by  the  band  stand  Brown  Hal  was  all  out  and 
swerving.  To  all  appearances  Roy  Wilkes  had  the  heat 
and  race  safe,  when  John  Dickerson  let  go  of  his  head  and 
struck  him.  Roy  went  to  a  break  and  Brown  Hal  won 
by  a  head.  Frank  G.  Buford  told  me  after  the  race  that 
he  timed  Brown  Hal  the  last  half  in  1  :oi.  This  was  to 
high  wheels  and  the  showing  was  worthy  of  the  horse 


90  MEMOIR. 

that  sired  Star  Pointer,  Hal  Dillard,  Hal  Braden,  Storm 
and  New  Richmond. 

Palo  Alto  was  selected  by  his  breeder  as  the  colt 
worthy  of  the  name  of  the  farm  made  famous  by  the  get 
of  Electioneer.  As  a  race  horse  he  came  up  to  expecta- 
tions. No  one  ever  saw  a  better,  and  an  early  death  alone 
prevented  him  from  being  equally  successful  as  a  sire.  At 
the  Cleveland  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1886,  Palo  Alto 
won  the  2  129  class,  in  the  second  heat  of  which  he  trotted 
the  last  half  in  1  107^4 .  At  the  fall  meeting  he  also  won 
the  2  :20  class,  his  sixth  heat  in  2  \20]/\  being  considered  a 
much  better  four-year-old  performance  than  Manzanita'r 
record  breaking  mile  in  2:16*4  at  the  summer  meeting. 
In  1891  Palo  Alto  placed  the  stallion  record  at  2:08%. 
He  died  the  following  July. 

Lucy  Fry  won  the  first  regular  event  on  the  pro- 
gramme at  the  meeting  in  1886.  She  was  by  Blue  Bull, 
out  of  the  old  race  mare  Kitty  Bates,  and  made  her  rec- 
ord of  2  :20^4  in  the  deciding  heat.  The  following  week 
at  Buffalo,  Lucy  Frv  broke  her  les;  in  the  first  heat  of  a 
race  and  was  destroyed.  Her  race  at  Cleveland  was  sand- 
wiched with  the  2:21  class,  in  which  Bonnie  McGregor 
disposed  of  Belle  F.  and  half  a  dozen  others  in  2:17^4, 
2:iSy2,  2:20.  On  the  following  day  Manzanita  cut  the 
four-year-old  trotting  record  of  the  world  to  2:16^4, 
when  she  finished  a  length  in  front  of  Belle  Hamlin  in 
the  first  heat  of  the  2  125  class.  She  also  won  the  second 
heat  in  2:1954,  after  which  the  beautiful  mare  from  the 
Village  Farm  went  to  the  front  in  2:18^2,  2:19,  2:185-2, 
Spofford  driving  her  out  in  two  heats  and  Kitefoot  in 
the  third.  The  other  winners  at  the  meeting  were  Endy- 
mion,  who  was  afterwards  exported  to  Italy,  Centella, 
Harry  Wilkes,  Gossip,  Jr.,  Arab  and  Mambrino  Sparkle, 


A    BUFFET   OF    FORTUNE.  91 

who,  after  a  contest  that  was  on  parade  for  two  days,  de- 
feated T.  Q.,  Prince  Arthur,  Felix,  Billy  Button,  Tom 
Rogers,  Bessie,  Deck  Wright  and  De  Barry  in  a  nine- 
heat  race  in  which  the  time  of  seven  of  the  heats  was  be- 
low 2  :20. 

The  Palo  Alto  and  Forest  City  Farm  stables  were  very 
much  in  evidence  at  the  fall  meeting  in  1886.  Marvin 
won  his  engagement  with  St.  Bel  and  Palo  Alto,  both  of 
the  colts  going  to  the  front  in  six-heat  races,  while  Caton 
won  with  Nettle  Leaf  and  Connaught  and  was  second  to 
Ambassador  with  Brown  Wilkes  in  the  free-for-all  stall- 
ion race.  The  list  of  winners  for  the  week  also  presents 
the  names  of  Civilization,  Orphan  Boy,  Maud  A.,  Cad 
Wade,  Argyle,  Violet  and  Kit  Curry,  the  race  won  by  the 
last  named  being  described  in  "The  Sandpiper"  story. 

Sometime  during  the  season  of  1886,  William  B.  Fasig 
decided  to  sever  his  connection  with  the  Cleveland  Driv- 
ing Park  Company,  although  nothing  was  said  about  it 
until  after  the  December  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Review 
of  The  National  Trotting  Association.  The  eleventh  Con- 
gress of  The  National  Trotting  Association  was  held  in 
Chicago,  February  10,  1886.  At  this  meeting  Fasig  rep- 
resented six  Ohio  associations,  and  he  was  again  a  dele- 
gate at  the  adjourned  session  which  was  held  at  the  Ken- 
nard  House  in  Cleveland,  November  16.  He  did  not  take 
an  active  part  in  the  debates  at  either  meeting,  but  when 
the  Board  of  Review  met  in  New  York  in  December, 
Fasig  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Secretary.  In  the 
election  that  followed  Thomas  Axworthy,  a  director  of 
the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company,  and  the  member 
for  the  Central  District,  voted  against  him  from  the  fact, 
as  I  have  been  told,  that  his  associates  in  Cleveland 
wanted  Fasig  to  remain  there.     The  vote  stood  four  to 


92  MEMOIR. 

three  in  favor  of  T.  J.  Vail,  the  deciding  ballot  being  cast 
by  Judge  Grant,  the  President  of  the  Association.  This 
election  led  to  the  organization  of  the  American  Trotting 
Association  on  March  2,  1887,  and  while  at  the  time  many 
considered  the  split  a  step  towards  disaster,  it  has  been 
the  means  of  broadening  the  field  of  harness  racing,  and 
at  the  same  time  added  a  pillar  to  the  stability  of  turf  gov- 
ernment. After  his  defeat,  Fasig  was  offered  all 
kinds  of  inducements  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  new  organ- 
ization. He  told  me  that  the  office  of  Secretary  was  of- 
fered him,  but  he  declined  and  remained  to  the  end  loyal 
to  the  National.  In  one  of  his  Spectator  papers,  Addison 
says  that  "at  times  the  buffets  of  fortune  have  a  sting  that 
almost  brings  a  tear,  but  nine  times  out  of  ten  in  the  end 
they  are  for  the  best,"  and  so  it  proved  in  the  case  of  Will- 
iam B.  Fasig.  While  he  never  forgave  Thomas  Ax- 
worthy for  voting  against  him,  he  had  to  admit  that  the 
defeat  shaped  his  course  towards  a  career  that  he  never 
dreamed  of  at  the  time,  and  for  which  he  had  all  of  the 
qualities  desired,  while  I  am  convinced  that  his  horror  of 
detail  and  constant  application  day  after  day  from  one 
year's  end  to  the  other  would  have  made  him  anything 
but  a  success  in  the  office  he  was  seeking. 

Fasig's  fourth  sale  was  held  at  the  Driving  Park,  May 
17  to  20,  1887.  Two  hundred  and  fourteen  horses  were 
catalogued,  and  of  that  number  one  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  were  sold  for  $52,565,  the  Canadian  mare,  Big  Fan- 
nie, 2:2654,  by  John  E.  Rysdyk,  being  the  highest  priced 
lot.  She  sold  for  $3,100,  while  John  Huntington  paid 
$2,500  for  Lottie  K.,2  126^4, and  the  George  Wilkes  horse, 
Waddell,  went  to  George  Forbes  on  a  bid  of  $2,100. 
Seven  others  sold  for  $1,000,  while  the  prices  of  the  bal- 
ance were  well  up  as    was    shown    by    the    average    of 


PATRON  AND  HARRY  WILKES  93 

$352.78.  Among  the  horses  catalogued,  but  not  offered, 
there  was  a  seven-year-old  bay  gelding  by  Ernest  with  a 
mark  of  2  132.  He  was  called  Protection,  and  as  Fasig 
had  sold  Boston  Davis  he  made  a  deal  for  this  rugged 
looking  trotter  from  the  Sciota  Valley.  After  a  few  trials 
on  the  road  Protection  was  put  in  training  and  started 
for  the  races  when  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  had  been 
disposed  of.  After  winning  at  Wellington  and  Medina, 
where  he  made  a  record  of  2  127,  Protection  was  unplaced 
to  Embassador  at  Cleveland  in  September  and  stood  3-2 
in  the  summary  of  a  race  won  by  the  Xugget  filly,  Xettle 
Leaf,  at  Detroit  in  2:2314,  2:27^.  His  next  starts  were 
at  Ravenna  and  Akron,  where  he  finished  inside  the 
money,  both  races  being  won  by  Lynn  W.  He  was  then 
shipped  to  Lexington,  where  he  was  distanced  by  Wil'kes- 
brino.  After  this  performance.  Fasig  did  not  consider 
Protection  a  "howling  success"  as  a  turf  horse.  He  sold 
him  and  the  new  owner  placed  the  gelding  in  John  S plan's 
stable.  The  following  year  Protection  made  good  by 
winning  at  Philadelphia  and  Hartford,  where  he  trotted 
to  a  record  of  2  :i9/4,  after  making  no  end  of  trouble  for 
J.  B.  Richardson  and  Frank  Buford  on  the  trip  from 
Cleveland  to  Charter  Oak. 

The  special  race  between  Harry  Wilkes  and  Patron 
was  the  feature  at  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1887.  On 
public  form  it  looked  as  though  the  Forest  City  Farm 
horse  was  over  matched,  as  his  mile  in  2:16  in  the  third 
heat  of  a  winning  race  the  preceding  week  at  Detroit  was 
the  fastest  he  had  shown  in  public,  while  at  the  same 
meeting  Harry  Wilkes  in  a  race  with  the  champion  pacer 
Johnston,  who  was  handicapped  to  a  wagon,  showed  that 
he  had  all  his  speed  and  was  in  trim  for  a  severe  combat. 
The  records  also  showed  that  during  the  seasons  of  1885 


94  MEMOIR. 

and  1886  he  had  lost  but  three  races  out  of  twenty-nine 
starts  and  two  of  his  defeats  were  driven  home  by  Cleve- 
land horses,  Clingstone  stepping  away  from  him  in 
straight  heats  at  Detroit,  September  26,  1885,  in  2:15^, 
2:17^2,  2:16,  while  at  St.  Louis,  October  9,  1886,  he 
trotted  second  to  Oliver  K.  in  2  :i6ji,  2  :i6ji,  2:17,  with 
Arab,  Charlie  Hilton  and  Phyllis  in  the  field.  At  the  date 
of  the  Cleveland  race  Patron  was  a  five-year-old.  He  had 
been  before  the  public  from  the  day  that  "Cope"  Stinson 
won  a  two-year-old  race  with  him  in  2  142^  over  the  half- 
mile  track  at  Brantford,  Ont.  This  performance  was, 
however,  scarcely  noticed  until  he  won  the  three-year- 
old  race  at  St.  Louis  in  1885,  defeating  Manzanita,  Sil- 
verone,  Eagle  Bird,  Iona  and  Greenlander,  after  a  contest 
of  six  heats  and  followed  it  two  weeks  later  with  another 
victory  at  Lexington,  where  he  made  a  record  of  2:19^2 
in  a  third  heat,  and  in  doing  it  equalled  the  three-year-old 
trotting  record  of  the  world  held  by  Hinda  Rose.  A 
first  and  a  second  was  Patron's  tally  as  a  four-year-old. 
The  following  season  he  acquired  his  reputation  as  a  race 
horse  and  also  made  the  record  of  2  :i4T/\.  that  stood  after 
his  name  at  the  end  of  his  turf  career.  In  the  first  heat 
of  his  race  with  Harry  Wilkes  at  Cleveland,  Patron 
marched  off  in  front  and  won  as  he  pleased  in  2  :i6.  Van 
Ness  made  his  move  on  the  next  trip.  Rushing  Harry 
Wilkes  off  in  front  he  led  at  the  quarter  in  33  seconds 
and  at  the  half  in  1  :o6.  In  the  third  quarter  Patron  came 
to  him.  They  raced  like  a  team  around  the  upper  turn, 
but  before  the  three-quarters  was  reached  the  gelding 
faltered  and  Fuller  won  the  heat  in  2  :i6y2.  The  regulars 
that  had  followed  Harry  Wilkes  for  several  seasons  could 
scarcely  believe  their  eyes  when  they  saw  the  popular  idol 
beaten  by  a  five-year-old,  but  in  the  third  heat,  when  Pa- 


1887    MEETING.  95 

tron  won  in  2 :  14.34 >  after  being  taken  back  in  the  stretch, 
they  knew  he  had  met  what  Monroe  Salisbury  termed 
the  great  requisite  of  a  race  horse,  "more  speed."  In  the 
deciding  heat  of  the  race  Patron  was  at  the  three-quarter 
pole  in  1  40,  after  trotting  the  third  quarter  in  33  seconds, 
and  many  thought  that  if  Fuller  had  sent  him  along  to  the 
wire  Maxie  Cobb's  stallion  record  of  2:1334  would  have 
been  beaten.  What  might  have  been  is  now  a  memory, 
and  Patron  was  never  again  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  day 
and  track  when  he  was  on  edge  for  a  championship  per- 
formance. At  Hartford,  in  September,  when  he  won  the 
Charter  Oak  Stake  without  the  semblance  of  a  contest, 
from  Prince  Wilkes,  Loretta  F.,  Astral,  Myrtle  and  Dan, 
a  shower  fell  before  the  third  heat,  in  which  Fuller  in- 
tended to  send  him  for  the  stallion  record.  Again  at 
Cleveland  during  the  fall  meeting  he  was  started  against 
Atlantic,  Orphan  Boy  and  Tom  Rogers,  and  won  the 
Ohio  Association  of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders'  stallion 
stake  the  day  before  he  was  named  to  meet  Clingstone  in 
a  special.  In  the  latter  Patron  won  the  first  heat  in  2:17 
after  passing  the  half  in  1  '.ojy2.  The  next  two  heats 
went  to  Clingstone  in  2  119,  after  which  Patron  was  drawn 
on  account  of  sickness.  The  pair  met  again  at  Detroit, 
the  following  week,  and  the  Rysdyk  gelding  was  again 
successful. 

On  the  opening  day  of  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting 
in  1887,  James  Goldsmith  sprung  a  surprise  in  the  bet- 
ting ring  when  he  won  the  2  126  class  with  Misty  Morn- 
ing, defeating  the  favorite  Class  Leader  and  Globe,  after 
he  had  won  two  heats.  Amie  King,  the  first  of  Mambrino 
King's  get  to  earn  Grand  Circuit  honors,  was  more  for- 
tunate the  following  day  when  she  won  the  2  \2J  class, 
which    was    sandwiched    with    the    2 123    trot,    in    which 


96  MEMOIR. 

McLeod  defeated  Astral,  Garnet  and  Favonia,  all  three  of 
which  were  well  thought  of  in  the  early  betting.  On  the 
next  afternoon  Loretta  F.  added  another  first  to  her  chain 
of  victories,  which  was  snapped  at  Rochester,  when  her 
driver  was  expelled  for  dropping  a  race  to  Charley  Ho- 
gan.  Arab,  Rosaline  Wilkes  and  Belle  Hamlin  were  the 
other  trotters  that  won  races  during  the  week,  the  flying 
gaited  daughter  of  Hamlin's  Almont,  Jr.,  cutting  her  rec- 
ord to  2:i6^4.  Also  for  the  first  time  in  its  history  the 
Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company  had  three  pacing  races 
on  its  programme  in  1887.  They  were  won  by  Jenny 
Lind,  Joe  L.  and  Johnston,  the  last  named  cutting  the 
track  record  to  2:11^4  m  the  deciding  heat  of  his  race, 
the  fractional  time  for  his  mile  being  32^,  32^4,  32^, 

The  Cleveland  fall  meeting  in  1887  was  a  combina- 
tion affair.  The  programme  presented  consisted  of 
twenty  events,  nine  of  which  were  stakes  of  the  National 
Association  of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders,  four  stakes  of 
the  Ohio  Association  of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders,  of 
which  William  B.  Fasig  was  Secretary,  and  the  balance 
specials  offered  by  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company. 
In  one  of  the  latter  Clingstone  defeated  Patron,  as  has 
been  stated,  and  in  another  Belle  Hamlin  started  against 
her  record,  and  reduced  it  to  2  :i3^4,  and  in  doing  so  ful- 
filled the  prophecy  of  her  breeder,  who,  in  1885,  said  that 
she  would  train  on  to  a  faster  record  than  that  of;  Gold- 
smith Maid.  The  class  races  at  this  meeting  were  won 
by  Embassador,  Trouble,  Decorator,  Maud  and  Chimes 
E.,  while  the  stakes  of  the  Breeders'  Associations  went  to 
Sphinx,  Sally  Cossack,  Chimes,  Bettina,  Nettle  Leaf,  Bell 
Boy,  Holmdel,  Iowa  Harold,  James  Bailey  and  Eminence. 


i 888  sale.  97 

In  1888  Buffalo  was  looking  for  a  new  Secretary.  C. 
J.  Hamlin,  who  was  at  that  time  at  the  head  of  the  Buf- 
falo Park,  offered  Fasig  a  few  inducements  to  locate  in 
that  town  and  act  as  Secretary  of  the  Buffalo  Driving 
Club.  After  thinking  the  matter  over,  he  decided  to  re- 
main with  the  Cleveland  Association  and  continue  his 
sale  business,  which  was  now  beginning  to  look  like  a 
fixture.  Selecting  May  15  to  19  as  the  dates  for  his  fifth 
sale,  Fasig  began  to  advertise  for  consignments.  When 
the  catalogue  was  issued  it  contained  three  hundred  and 
fifty  lots,  W.  J.  Gordon  having  consigned  all  of  his  breed- 
ing stock,  together  with  William  H.,  2:1834,  and  Croxie, 
2:1954,  while  S.  A.  Brown  sent  a  consignment.  This 
with  such  racing  material  as  Sarah  B.,  2  -.20^4  ;  Decorator, 
2:23^4;  Patsey  Clinker,  2:20;  Windsor  M.,  2:20^4,  and 
over  a  score  of  others  attracted  many  of  the  best  buyers 
and  when  the  hammer  fell  for  the  last  time,  it  was  found 
that  two  hundred  and  fifty  head  had  been  sold  for  $99,- 
450.  John  H.  Shults,  the  "Monarch  of  the  Sale  Ring," 
made  his  first  appearance  as  a  buyer  at  Cleveland  during 
this  sale,  and,  as  was  the  rule  in  those  days,  Sudie  D.,  the 
highest  priced  lot  of  the  week,  was  knocked  down  to  him 
on  a  bid  of  $4,100.  She  was  a  six-year-old  mare  by  Al- 
cyone, out  of  the  dam  of  Ambassador.  Mr.  Shults  also 
paid  $2,500  for  Miss  Leontine,  a  two-year-old  filly  by 
Robert  McGregor,  out  of  Leontine,  2:2334,  and  $2,000 
for  the  twelve-year-old  mare  Kitty  Wilkes,  2:34^,  by 
George  Wilkes.  Decorator  sold  for  $3,200,  Patsey 
Clinker  for  $2,025,  and  Strategist,  2 128,  for  $2,000. 
These  were  the  days  when  a  pedigree  with  a  little  speed, 
or  a  pedigree  with  a  good  story,  brought  the  money  in  the 
trotting  horse  business.  Everything  was  sacrificed  to 
the  standard  and  a  few  speed  producing  lines  of  the  tin- 
cup  variety. 


98  MEMOIR. 

The  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1888  was  the  first  at 
which  the  average  time  for  the  trotting  races  was  below 
2  :20,  as  well  as  the  one  at  which  the  saddle  record  of  the 
world  for  pacers  was  made,  and  the  special  between  the 
brothers  Fred  Folger  and  Guy.  Johnston  was  started 
on  August  3  to  reduce  the  record  of  2:1414,  which  Billy 
Boyce  made  at  Buffalo,  August  1,  1868,  in  a  race  with  the 
trotter  Rolla  Golddust.  George  Starr  rode  Johnston,  and 
made  the  mile  in  2:13,  the  fractional  time  being  32/4, 
33^4,  34,  33.  The  special  race  between  the  Kentucky 
Prince  geldings  was  unique  only  on  account  of  the  rela- 
tionship of  the  performers,  as  Fred  Folger  could  not  trot 
fast  enough  to  exercise  the  black  horse.  The  regular 
events  at  the  meeting  were  won  by  T.  T.  S.,  Bessemer, 
Jack,  J.  B.  Richardson,  Arrow,  Junemont,  Lady  White- 
foot,  Favonia,  Mulatto,  Prince  Wilkes  and  Kinsman.  In 
the  race  won  by  Mulatto,  G.  Grimes  started  a  gray  mare 
named  Mella  G.  She  finished  behind  the  money.  The 
following  week  at  Buffalo  she  was  named  to  start  against 
the  same  horses  as  well  as  Cypress,  Sprague  Golddust, 
Blue  Grass  Hambletonian,  Harvester  and  B.  B.  Custer. 
The  race  was  programmed  for  the  last  clay  of  the  meet- 
ing, and  as  Grimes  thought  she  did  not  have  a  chance, 
he  loaded  her  on  the  cars  with  his  other  horses  to  ship 
to  Rochester.  Fasig,  as  he  told  me  one  morning  while 
riding  in  one  of  the  bob-tailed  horse  cars  which  in  those 
clays  ran  from  Willson  Avenue  to  Glenville,  took  a  fancy 
to  the  gray  and  had  a  premonition  that  she  could  win. 
When  he  learned  that  Mella  G.  was  gone  he  rushed  to  the 
freight  yard,  succeeded  in  trading  $600  and  Jessie  Hays, 
2  :2s,  for  her,  borrowed  a  harness,  boots  and  sulky,  and 
started.  Spurred  on  by  a  little  touch  of  superstition, 
which  at  times  permeated  every  fiber  of  Fasig's  body,  he 


TWISTING    THE    TALENT.  99 

backed  Mella  G.  to  win  at  from  $5  to  $8  in  pools  running 
from  $80  to  $100.  When  the  race  started  Mella  G. 
stepped  out  and  won  two  heats  in  2:22^2,  2:22^.  In 
the  third  heat  she  was  in  trouble  and  Cypress  won  in 
2  \22%.  This  did  not  help  matters  any  as  the  money  was 
on  Mulatto.  The  talent  breathed  easier  when  Cypress 
broke  in  the  stretch  in  the  fourth  heat  and  the  favorite 
raced  home  in  2:23^-  Mella  G.  was  laid  up  that  trip, 
but  when  the  word  was  given  for  the  fifth  heat  her  driver 
moved  out  in  front  and  made  a  runaway  race  of  it,  win- 
ning as  he  pleased  in  2  124.  Fasig  cleared  up  $4,000  in 
the  race,  the  purse  netting  $800,  while  the  balance  be- 
longed to  the  combination  that  laughed  at  him  when  he 
was  backing  the  little  gray  mare.  Later  in  the  season 
Mella  G.  won  another  race  for  him  at  Medina,  Ohio,  but 
she  failed  to  get  inside  the  money  in  the  race  that  Fugue 
won  at  the  Cleveland  fall  meeting.  At  this  meeting  Fasig 
also  started  Keokee  and  Wyandot,  the  two  Ambassadors 
which  he  had  bred  in  partnership  with  "Uncle"  Ben 
Wrisrht.  Wvandot  won  the  Buckeve  stake  for  three-vear- 
olds  after  a  five-heat  contest  with  Clonmore,  the  Forest 
City  Farm  entry,  and  Keokee  was  second  to  Heckothrift, 
which  was  C.  F.  Emery's  entry  in  the  Excelsior  Stake.  At 
this  meeting  Prince  Wilkes  and  Patron  met  in  a  special, 
the  Red  Wilkes  gelding  going  to  the  front  after  Patron 
had  won  a  heat  in  2:16.  The  other  races  offered  by  the 
Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company  were  won  by  Baroness, 
Lettie  Waterson,  Lady  Bullion,  Argentine,  Alcagetta, 
Blue  Grass  Hambletonian  and  Belva  Lockwood,  while  the 
stakes  of  the  Ohio  Breeders'  Association  not  already  re- 
ferred to  were  won  by  Gold  Leaf,  Mohawk  Gift,  Harry 
Wade,  Holmdel,  Orphan  and  Brandoline. 


100  MEMOIR. 

What  Fasig  termed  the  "Red  Letter  Sale"  was  held  at 
Cleveland,  May  13  to  19,  1889.  Five  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-six lots  were  catalogued,  the  "boom  horse"  for  the  oc- 
casion being  the  black  gelding  Guy,  by  Kentucky  Prince. 
At  the  time  he  was  the  only  horse  in  sight  that  had  a 
chance  to  reduce  the  2  :o8%  of  Maud  S.  which  played 
hide  and  seek  with  the  sunshine  in  the  center  of  the  gilded 
shoe  under  the  arch  at  the  entrance  to  the  Cleveland  Driv- 
ing Park.  The  Gordon  Glen  and  J.  B.  Houston  consign- 
ments were  the  star  attractions  for  the  week,  Suisun  in 
the  latter  being  written  up  in  as  glowing  terms  as  Guy 
and  his  stable  companions.  They  were  catalogued  for  the 
first  and  second  days  and  that  every  man  with  a  horse  or 
two  in  the  book  wanted  them  sold  on  the  same  dates  is 
evidenced  by  the  following  characteristic  petition  to  con- 
signors which  Fasig  inserted  in  the  catalogue: 

"It  is  well  for  Job  that  the  system  of  combination 
horse  sales  was  inaugurated  in  the  latter  part  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  for  had  they  been  adopted  a  long  time — 
'B.  C — Job  might  have  drifted  into  the  management  of 
one.  Then  Job  would  have  lost  his  reputation,  because,  had 
he  organized  a  six  days'  sale  and  not  been  able  to  sell 
all  the  horses  the  second  day — which  it  is  fair  to  assume 
he  could  not — the  consignors  would  have  said,  d — n  Job. 
Then  Job  would  have  returned  the  argument  in  kind,  and 
history  would  have  recorded  on  its  pages  the  name  of 
some  other  man  as  the  hero  of  the  patience  dodge.  His 
inspiring  remark,  'He  saith  among  the  trumpets,  Ha ! 
Ha!'  would  be  lost  in  oblivion  and  the  'thunder'  which 
clothed  his  horse's  neck  would  be  transferred  to  his  busi- 
ness and  have  'been  to  pay.'  Job  would  have  gone  down 
unwept,  unhonored  and  unsung — a  plain  North  American 
combination  horse  sale  manager  and  crank." 


SALE    OF    GUY.  101 

All  eyes  were  turned  towards  Cleveland  on  the  open- 
ing day  of  the  sale,  and  when  it  was  learned  that  Guy 
had  been  knocked  down  for  $29,750,  even  those  who  knew 
but  little  of  such  matters  had  no  hesitation  in  expressing 
an  opinion  that  a  fast  trotter,  even  if  he  did  have  a  few 
"bees  in  his  bonnet"  was  a  very  desirable  piece  of  prop- 
erty. It  is  only  repeating  ancient  history  to  state  that  the 
sale  of  this  horse  was  a  fizzle.  W.  J.  Gordon  did  not  have 
the  courage  to  part  with  him  when  he  saw  him  in  the  sale 
ring,  and  while  all  of  his  other  racing  material  was  scat- 
tered, Clingstone  and  Guy  were  led  back  to  their  old  stalls 
in  the  big  barn  at  Gordon  Glen.  Frank  Brunell,  who 
was  at  that  time  sporting  editor  of  the  Cleveland  Plain 
Dealer,  wrote  the  following  description  of  the  sale  for 
The  Horseman  : 

Cleveland,  O.,  May  13,  1889. — The  Fasig  sale  opened 
at  10  o'clock  this  morning  with  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  buyers  present.  Guy  and  Clingstone  were  to  be  sold 
at  10  o'clock,  but  did  not  come  to  the  stand  until  12:40. 
Then  it  was  only  to  partially  disappoint  everyone.  Guy 
was  sold  and  resold  to  his  owner,  and  the  other  star  of 
the  sale — Clingstone — was  withdrawn  by  his  owner,  who 
declared  to  keep  the  pair  for  his  own  private  use  as  a 
team.  Guy  never  looked  better.  He  has  improved  during 
the  winter.  His  black  coat  shone  under  the  noonday  sun 
and  he  blinked  at  the  crowd  as  though  proud  and  amused 
at  the  attention  paid  him.  The  auctioneers  gushed  over 
him,  and  Secretary  Fasig  told  the  crowd  what  a  wonder 
he  was,  and  that  his  mile  last  fall  in  2:12  was  as  good 
as  2  :oyl/2  on  an  ordinary  day,  because  he  had  been  scored 
a  lot  when  he  made  it,  had  had  his  shoes  changed  from 
11  to  9  ounces,  the  track  was  slow  and  dull,  a  wind  blew 
in  his  face,  and  he  trotted  the  mile  twentv  feet  from  the 


102  MEMOIR. 

pole  all  around.  All  this  was  true  enough.  So  was  the 
declaration  that  he  was  the  only  horse  in  sight  likely  to 
break  the  record — Maud  S.'s  2:08^.  Millard  Sanders 
drove  him  up  and  down,  and  the  crowd  applauded  some 
more.  Then  it  was  told  that  he  would  trot  a  mile  with  a 
fast  last  quarter.  He  did  it  in  his  own  beautiful  friction- 
less  way,  coming  home  from  the  three-quarter  pole  in 
31^2  seconds — a  2:06  gait.  Meanwhile  bidders  had 
drawn  themselves  nearer  the  auctioneer's  box.  Jackson 
Case,  Jerome  I.  Case's  son,  was  on  the  box  corner,  with 
W.  H.  Crawford  and  Ed  Bither  beneath  him.  Jackson's 
father  had  missed  the  little  wonder  once,  and  the  son  was 
going  to  try  for  him  again.  He  was  needed  to  replace 
the  sore-footed  Jay-Eye-See,  once  a  trotting  king,  but 
hardly  long  enough  to  get  measured  for  a  crown.  A 
tall,  dark  man  with  English  whiskers — Carlton,  once  a 
ballplayer  of  fame;  Dr.  Stuart,  the  local  vet;  President 
Campau,  of  The  Horseman  and  Detroit  Driving  Club ; 
all  drew  nervously  near  and  waited.  "There's  the  hoss," 
said  Colonel  Edmondson.  "He  is  to  be  sold  without  re- 
serve.    Bid  on  him !" 

"Fifteen  thousand  dollars !"  shouted  young  Case. 
"Sixteen!"  said  Mr.  Campau. 

President  Edwards  moved  up.  In  his  pocket  was  a 
telegraphic  request  from  Frank  Work,  the  well-known 
trotting  amateur  of  New  York,  to  bid  up  to  $17,000  for 
Guy.  Colonel  Edwards  never  got  a  chance.  Dr.  Stuart 
bid  $17,000,  Carlton  $18,000,  and  then  it  lagged  a  little. 
Suddenly  a  peculiar-looking  and  quietly-dressed  man  who 
was  under  the  shadow  of  the  auctioneer's  box  and  hidden 
from  the  stands,  raised  his  pale  and  nervous  eyes  and 
bid  $19,000.  Who  was  he?  H.  A.  Stephens,  of  the  local 
tea  and  coffee  firm  of  Steohens  &  Widlar,  who  married 


GUY    SOLD    FOR   $29,750.  103 

a  relative  of  Dr.  Salisbury,  Mr.  W.  J.  Gordon's  friend 
and  physician.  He  was  known  to  have  a  liking  for  a 
trotter,  but  never  owned  a  good  one.  Carlton  dropped 
out.  Case  had  long  ago  retired  and  Campau,  Stuart  and 
Stephens  carried  on  the  fight.  Up  went  the  wonder's 
price  to  the  music  of  his  twitching  ears.  At  first  each 
raise  was  $1,000,  and  then  it  dropped  to  $500.  At  $29,- 
000  Dr.  Stuart  laughed  a  farewell.  He  said  that  he  was 
there  for  Chicagoans,  and  didn't  think  Guy  was  worth 
any  more  than  $29,000.  Besides  that,  he  didn't  think 
$30,000  would  buy  him.  Mr.  Campau  bid  $29,500.  "Are 
you  bidding  for  yourself?"  asked  the  writer.  "Sure!  I'd 
like  to  own  him  if  I  can,"  he  said  nervously.  Mr.  Stephens 
was  also,  he  said,  after  Guy  for  himself.  Then  he  said 
$29,750  to  the  auctioneer.  Mr.  Campau  then  retired  and 
left  the  local  tea.  and  coffee  merchant  alone  in  the  list. 
Edmondson  dallied  with  the  crowd.  It  wouldn't  rise  an 
inch,  and  through  it  went  whispers  that  Mr.  Stephens  was 
bidding  for  Mr.  Gordon,  and  that  such  proceedings  were 
illegitimate  and  unfair.  After  a  five  minutes'  plea  Guy 
was  knocked  down  to  Mr.  Stephens  for  $29,750,  the  high- 
est price  ever  paid  for  a  gelding  at  a  public  sale.  When 
it  was  announced  that  H.  A.  Stephens,  of  Cleveland,  was 
the  buyer,  the  spectators  cheered.  But  the  horsemen 
grouped  up  and  discussed  the  bids  and  bidders.  Carlton 
had  been  bidding  for  a  New  Yorker,  who  didn't  want  to 
go  over  $20,000.  Generally  it  was  resolved  that  Mr. 
Gordon  had  bid  in  the  horse  through  Mr.  Stephens.  The 
new  owner  of  Guy  was  called  by  the  old  owner,  and  an 
offer  of  $1,000  made  for  the  bargain.  Mr.  Stephens  ac- 
cepted the  offer  later  along,  and  the  withdrawal  of  Cling- 
stone followed." 


104  MEMOIR. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  sale  Guy  was  started  at  the 
Grand  Circuit  meeting  to  reduce  his  record  and  Mr.  Gor- 
don had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Millard  Sanders  drive 
him  in  2  :io^4,  a  mark  that  he  was  never  afterwards  able 
to  equal  to  a  high-wheel  sulky.  In  the  spring  of  1893 
Guy  and  Clingstone  again  appeared  in  the  sale  ring.  W. 
J.  Gordon  was  dead  and  the  executors  of  the  estate  de- 
cided to  sell  the  pair.  When  Clingstone  was  led  into  the 
ring  those  present  were  advised  that  "the  demon  trotter" 
was  to  be  bid  off  at  $100  by  Daisy  Gordon  and  to  remain 
on  the  place  for  the  balance  of  his  days.  The  programme 
was  carried  out  and  Clingstone  remained  at  Gordon  Glen 
until  he  was  chloroformed  December  23,  1899.  At  this 
date  Guy  was  thirteen.  When  he  was  led  out  Millard 
Sanders  wanted  him.  He  run  him  up  to  $1,400,  when  I 
said  $1,500,  and  the  horse  was  knocked  down  to  me  for 
D.  J.  Campau,  of  Detroit,  Mich.  He  put  him  in  training 
and  that  summer  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  reduce 
the  world's  wagon  record  for  trotters  to  2:13,  and  two 
days  later  cut  the  world's  record  for  trotting  geldings  to 
2:09^4.  When  he  trotted  in  2:13  Guy  was  hitched  to  a 
top  wagon  with  small  wheels.  His  mile  in  2  '.09^4  was 
to  an  old-style  sulky  with  bike  attachments.  Eight  years 
later,  when  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  picture  of  Guy 
taken  when  he  was  twenty-one,  W.  B.  Fasig,  under  date 
of  October  11,  1901,  wrote  me  as  follows:  "I  always  be- 
lieved and  always  shall  that  Guy  was  one  of  the  fastest 
trotting  horses  ever  harnessed."  Guy  died  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  November  11,  1902. 

At  the  "Red  Letter  Sale"  three  hundred  and  ninety-six 
horses  were  sold  for  $226,949,  an  average  of  $562.75. 
With  the  sale  of  Guy  cut  out,  the  average  for  the  three 
hundred  and  ninetv-five  head  was  a  small  fraction  under 


1889    MEETING.  105 

S500.  The  report  of  the  sale  shows  that  twenty-six  horses 
sold  at  figures  between  Si, 000  and  $2,000  and  that  eight 
brought  between  $2,000  and  $4,000.  Suisun  was  pur- 
chased by  John  Madden  for  $10,100,  the  Leland  mare, 
Clara,  brought  $7,500,  Calhoun  by  Pilot  Medium  $4,900, 
Mambrino  Sparkle  $3,950,  and  the  Harold  stallion,  Hart- 
ford, $3,750.  A  few  minutes  after  Hartford  was  sold,  the 
ten-year-old  mare  Geraldine,  by  Jay  Gould,  was  led  in. 
She  brought  $160.  A  yearling,  by  Hartford,  out  of  Ger- 
aldine, was  not  considered  good  enough  to  offer,  and  his 
breeder  told  Champ  Brown,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.,  to  take 
him.  Brown  raised  the  little  knee-sprung  gelding,  broke 
him.  and  found  that  he  had  a  flying  pacer.  He  named 
him  Robert  J.,  started  him  a  few  times,  and  after  killing 
Pendennis  in  a  race  at  Fleetwood  Park,  Xew  York,  sold 
him  to  C.  J.  Hamlin.  The  purchase  was  made  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Ed  Geers,  and  in  his  hands  the  Hartford  geld- 
ing, after  proving  one  of  the  best  pieces  of  racing  material 
that  ever  wore  harness,  reduced  the  world's  record  to 
2:01^,  over  the  "four-cornered"  track  at  Terre  Haute. 

The  Cleveland  Driving  Park  added  two  world's  rec- 
ords to  its  list  at  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1889.  One 
of  these  was  scored  in  the  free-for-all,  in  which  Roy 
Wilkes,  in  the  second  heat,  equalled  the  world's  record  for 
pacing  stallions  when  he  won  in  2:13,  and  which  was  re- 
duced to  2  :  12^/2  in  the  next  heat,  when,  after  stalling  Roy 
Wilkes  off  at  the  distance,  Brown  Hal  finished  half  a 
length  in  front  of  Gossip,  Jr.  Axtell  was  the  second 
champion.  He  was  started  against  the  three-year-old  trot- 
ting record  of  2  '.1^/2  and  reduced  it  to  2  '.\-\Y\.  Later  in 
the  season  he  placed  the  figure  for  three-year-old  trotters 
and  trotting  stallions  at  2:12,  and  was  sold  for  $105,000. 
While  at  Cleveland.  C.  W.  \\  llliams  also  reduced  Aller- 


106  MEMOIR. 

ton's  three-year-old  record  to  2:19.  At  this  meeting 
Geers  sprung  a  surprise  on  the  wise  men,  who  think 
they  know  a  thing  or  two  about  pacers,  when  he  literally 
tramped  on  the  flashy  gray  gelding,  William  M.  Singerley, 
and  won  the  2  125  pace  with  Hal  Pointer,  giving  him  a 
record  of  2:15^4.  Fasig  and  a  few  others  knew  what 
Geers  had  under  cover  and  profited  by  their  knowledge, 
but  after  this  meeting  it  was  a  difficult  matter  to  find  a 
man  that  was  willing  to  give  odds  against  the  "Pointer 
Horse,"  the  greatest  and  gamest  of  Tom  Hal's  get.  The 
other  races  programmed  for  the  Cleveland  meeting  in 
1889,  were  won  by  Reference,  Lady  Bullion,  Annie  H., 
Jack,  Colvina  Sprague,  Thornless,  Veritas,  Gean  Smith, 
and  Lillian.  The  thirty-one  heats  trotted  on  the  five  days 
averaged  2:19%,  and  the  sixteen  paced  averaged  2:16, 
making  the  average  time  for  the  meeting  2:18%.  The 
Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company  did  not  give  a  fall  meet- 
ing in  1889,  the  racing  at  Glenville  that  season  closing 
with  the  Ohio  Breeders'  meeting  the  last  week  in  Septem- 
ber and  the  Spirit  of  the  Times  Futurity,  in  which  the 
Director  filly,  Margaret  S.,  defeated  Palo  Alto  Belle,  For- 
tuna  and  San  Malo  in  2:233/2,  2\22]/2,  2:24.  The  stake 
was  worth  $5,340,  with  a  cup  valued  at  $1,000  to  the 
winner. 

While  attending  the  February  sale  at  Lexington  in 
1889,  Fasig  purchased  a  bay  horse  by  Victor  Bismarck. 
After  a  trial  he  thought  well  enough  of  the  colt  to  name 
him  Oakhurst,  after  the  gambler  in  Bret  Hart's  story, 
"The  Outcasts  of  Poker  Flat."  With  his  eye  ever  on  the 
silver  lining  of  the  cloud,  Fasig  also  planned  to  have  each 
of  Oakhurst's  colts  carry  the  name  of  a  gambler  that  had 
made  a  reputation  somewhere  between  Monte  Carlo  and 
'Frisco,  but  after  he  had  tried  his  new  stock  horse  on  the 


EMERY   AND    FASIG.  107 

turf  and  in  the  stud,  he  found  that  Oakhurst  was  not 
''worth  the  water  he  drank,"  and  away  he  went  to  another 
owner. 

The  catalogue  for  Fasig's  May  sale  in  1890  presented 
the  names  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  horses,  and  in  that 
number  there  was  not  one  that  could  be  considered  high 
class.  By  the  records,  Newton  B.,  2  :iy}i,  and  Company, 
2  :ig}i,  were  the  fastest.  Of  this  pair,  the  gray  had  seen 
his  best  days,  and  the  Kentucky  Prince  gelding  was  such 
a  puller  that  he  was  worthless  for  racing  purposes.  Dur- 
ing the  week  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  head  sold  for 
$98,782 ;  Holstein,  2 129^,  being  the  highest  priced 
lot.  He  sold  for  $2,950,  while  Strategist  brought  $2,500, 
Prince  Hogarth  $2,150,  Newton  B.  $1,535,  tne  blind  geld- 
ing-, Five  Points,  $1,526,  and  Company,  $1,500.  On  the 
second  day  of  the  sale  three  two-year-old  fillies,  by  On- 
ward, sold  for  $3,905,  and  Dessie  Wingate,  a  six-year-old 
mare  by  the  same  sire,  brought  $2,325.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  1890,  William  B.  Fasig  and  C.  F.  Emery  made  ar- 
rangements to  hold  a  breeder's  sale,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Emery  &  Fasig,  in  the  amphitheater  at  Gordon  Glen,  in 
connection  with  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Cleveland  Driving 
Park  Company,  at  which  three  stake  races  offered  by  them 
were  also  decided.  During  the  week  eighty-five  head 
were  disposed  of  for  $63,720.  Eighteen  of  this  number 
sold  for  over  $1,000,  the  highest  priced  one  being  the 
three-year-old  filly  Jeanne,  by  Kentucky  Prince,  out  of 
Suisun,  in  foal  to  Axtell,  whose  service  fee  was  at  that 
time  $1,000.  The  filly  was  consigned  by  John  Madden. 
Prior  to  the  sale  C.  F.  Emery  was  requested  to  make  a  bid 
of  $6,000  on  Jeanne  for  W.  E.  Spier,  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. 
He  made  it  and  the  filly  was  knocked  down  to  him.  The 
following    day  W.  H.  Crawford,    in    a    sneering    way, 


108  MEMOIR. 

approached  Mr.  Emery,  and  asked  him  if  he  knew  who 
Spier  was.  When  Mr.  Emery  said  that  he  did  not,  Craw- 
ford gave  him  to  understand  that  Madden  and  Spier  were 
partners  in  a  number  of  horses,  Robert  McGregor  being 
one  of  them.  This  was  news  to  Mr.  Emery,  and  when  he 
met  Madden  he  requested  him  to  telegraph  W.  E.  Spier 
and  ask  if  he  would  let  him  have  Jeanne  for  the  amount 
bid.  On  the  following  day  Madden  advised  him  that  he 
could.  The  filly  was  sent  to  the  Forest  City  Farm,  and 
as  she  did  not  prove  in  foal  it  looked  as  though  she  were 
a  "gold  brick."  As  the  years  rolled  by,  however,  time 
balanced  the  account,  as,  when  mated  with  Patron,  she 
produced  Miss  Delia  Fox,  2:io^J;  Cretonnes,  2:1354; 
Bernalda,  2:1754;  Merlo  Erlandi,  and  the  colt  Del  Toro, 
that  was  timed  separately  in  2:i6y2  in  a  race  at  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  as  a  two-year-old. 

Small  fields  and  fast  time  was  the  order  of  the  day  at 
the  Cleveland  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1890.  There 
were  but  sixty-seven  starters  in  the  fourteen  regular  events 
and  two  specials,  against  ninety-eight  starters  in  four- 
teen events  in  1889.  What  the  card  lacked  in  quantity, 
however,  was  more  than  balanced  by  quality,  as  the  aver- 
age rate  of  speed  for  the  meeting  was  2:17^4,  the  thirty- 
eight  heats  trotted  averaging  2:18^4,  and  the  thirteen 
heats  paced  averaged  2:16.  A  world's  record  was  also 
beaten  when  Adonis  was  awarded  the  second  heat  of  the 
free-for-all  pace  in  2:ny2,  it  being  the  fastest  heat  paced 
in  a  race  up  to  that  date.  Two  days  later  Dallas  also  won 
a  heat  in  the  same  time,  the  time  made  by  the  pair  being 
the  records  with  which  they  retired  from  the  turf.  Hal 
Pointer  forced  Adonis  to  his  record.  In  the  heat  in  ques- 
tion, Pointer  was  timed  the  last  half  in  1  :02y2,  but  a  break 
at  the  finish  gave  the  Sidney  gelding  the  heat.     Pointer 


1890    MEETING.  109 

then  went  on  and  won  the  race,  while  from  that  day 
Adonis  was  a  back  number.  Dallas  also  failed  to  win  the 
race  in  which  he  made  his  record,  the  big  end  of  the  purse 
going  to  Cricket,  the  first  mare  to  make  a  pacing  record  of 
2:10,  and  the  only  one  that  ever  did  so  to  a  high-wheel 
sulky.  The  spotted  mare,  Leopard  Rose,  created  a  ripple 
of  excitement  on  the  opening  day  when  she  won  the  2  130 
class  from  "Second  Money"  Pixley,  and  made  a  record 
of  2  :iS/4-  Prince  Warwick  also  showed  fast  in  this  race, 
but  failed  to  win  a  heat.  Later  on  he  was  sold  for  export, 
and  is  now  a  well-known  sire  in  Austria.  James  H.  Gold- 
smith had  two  winners  at  this  meeting  in  Mambrino  Maid 
and  Simmocolon.  R.  Stewart  also  had  two,  his  repre- 
sentatives being  Grant's  Abdallah  and  Walter  E.  The 
other  successful  starters  were  Alvin,  Alfred  S.,  McDoel 
and  Rosaline  Wilkes,  while  Harry  Wilkes  trotted  a 
special  in  2:14^,  and  Sunol,  after  showing  a  quarter  in 
31  seconds,  made  a  mile  in  2:15. 

Xo  one  ever  saw  a  better  series  of  races  than  were 
programmed  by  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company  for 
its  fall  meeting  in  1890.  All  of  them,  with  the  exception 
of  the  two-year-old  stake,  were  closely  contested,  and  in 
that  event  Sternberg  reduced  the  race  record  for  colts 
of  that  age  to  2  :26l/2  when  he  defeated  the  St.  Bel  filly 
Free.  The  three  and  four-year-old  stakes  proved  two  of 
the  best  races  ever  trotted  over  the  Cleveland  track.  Na- 
vidad.  on  the  showing  made  in  Chicago,  where  he  defeated 
Kremlin  in  a  seven-heat  race  and  won  the  deciding  heat 
in  2:22^4,  was  the  favorite  for  the  latter.  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  a  natty  gray  from  Pennsylvania ;  Merle  Moore, 
Coralloid,  and  Twist,  also  had  admirers,  but  none  of  them 
except  Twist  could  march  through  the  mud  with  the 
Whips  gelding  when  Marvin  cut  him  loose  in  the  third 


110  MEMOIR. 

heat.  Coralloid  tired  after  going  two  heats,  and  Merle 
Moore  was  drawn  after  the  fourth.  There  were  eleven 
starters  in  the  three-year-old  stake,  but  after  it  was  once 
under  way  the  race  settled  down  to  a  struggle  between 
Ponce  de  Leon,  Conductor,  and  the  favorite,  McGregor 
Wilkes.  In  the  first  two  heats  it  was  Ponce  de  Leon  all  the 
way  in  2  125^4  >  2  :26^J.  The  slippery  footing  made  the  big 
colt  leg-weary  in  the  third  heat,  and  when  he  made  a  break 
in  the  stretch,  McGregor  Wilkes  slipped  by  and  won  in 
2  126^4.  The  race  was  then  postponed.  On  the  following 
day  Ponce  de  Leon's  driver  decided  to  make  a  runaway 
race  of  it.  After  laying  with  the  field  to  the  quarter  in 
36  seconds,  he  picked  him  up  and  drove  him  the  second 
quarter  in  34^  seconds.  This  opened  up  a  big  gap  of 
daylight,  but  when  the  field  came  to  the  black  colt  in  the 
stretch  he  had  nothing  to  finish  with,  and  McGregor 
Wilkes  won  by  a  length  in  2:22^4,  with  Conductor  at 
Ponce  de  Leon's  wheel.  In  the  fifth  heat  McGregor 
Wilkes  made  a  break  in  the  first  quarter  and  was  out  of  it, 
the  struggle  from  that  time  to  the  finish  of  a  record 
breaking  seven-heat  race  for  three-year-olds  being  be- 
tween Ponce  de  Leon  and  Conductor,  the  latter  winning 
the  fifth,  sixth  and  seventh  heats  in  2:26^,  2:25^4,  2:28. 
The  time  in  the  sixth  heat  was  the  fastest  ever  made  in 
the  sixth  heat  of  a  race  by  a  thrte-year-old,  the  perform- 
ance taken  the  place  of  Patron's  2  :26y2  in  the  Gasconade 
stake  at  St.  Louis  in  1885,  when  he  defeated  Manzanita 
and  Silverone.  In  the  race  at  St.  Louis,  a  son  of  Pancoast 
defeated  a  daughter  of  Electioneer,  while  at  Cleveland  the 
tables  were  turned  as  Conductor,  by  Electioneer,  defeated 
Ponce  de  Leon  by  Pancoast.  Another  peculiar  feature  in 
connection  with  the  breeding  of  the  two  colts,  caused  con- 
siderable comment,  on  account  of  Ponce  de  Leon  being 


THE    INTIMIDATORS.  Ill 

out  of  Elvira,  the  Cuyler  filly  that  reduced  the  four-year- 
old  record  to  2  :i8}4>  but  was,  inside  of  three  months,  de- 
prived of  the  honors  by  Sallie  Benton,  2  '.17 $4,  a  gray  filly 
by  General  Benton,  out  of  Sontag  Mohawk,  the  dam  of 
Conductor,  while  Elvira  was  also  a  sister  to  Beatrice,  the 
dam  of  Patron. 

During  the  week  Budd  Doble  won  his  engagement  with 
So  Long,  Veritas  and  Godilea,  and  finished  behind  the 
money  in  the  2  :i6  class  with  Houri,  this  race  proving  only 
a  work-out  for  Alfred  S.,  with  Susie  S.  second,  and  Mary 
Marshall  third.  C.  F.  Emery  also  won  two  races  with 
Tom  Arden  and  sold  him  for  about  five  times  what  he 
paid  for  him  at  the  Wellington,  O.,  fair,  a  few  weeks  prior 
to  the  meeting.  Wyandot  was  the  favorite  for  the  second 
division  of  the  2  125  class,  and  won  it  after  being  rather 
gay  in  the  first  heat.  In  a  team  race  Pickpania  and  Won- 
der defeated  Keokee  and  Five  Points,  driven  by  W.  B. 
Fasig,  the  last  quarter  of  the  third  heat  being  trotted  in 
34^4  seconds.  The  pacing  races  on  the  programme  were 
won  by  Cousin  Jim  and  Pickaway.  On  the  third  day  oi 
the  meeting  Marvin  drove  Palo  Alto  an  exhibition  mile  in 
2  :i6  and  Sunol  in  2  113^4.  Guy  was  also  started  twice  to 
reduce  his  record,  but  failed,  his  time  being  2:12^2, 
2  :i23^. 

It  was  at  this  meeting  that  W.  H.  Crawford  and  Orrin 
A.  Hickok  made  their  first  move  to  put  a  damper  on  turf 
writers,  who  had  little  hesitation  in  calling  a  spade  a  spade 
when  reporting  a  race  or  repeating  tales  of  the  past.  The 
writer  of  these  notes  was  the  first  victim  selected  by  this 
noble  band  of  intimidators  and  their  allies.  Tom  Gal- 
lagher, the  only  and  original  "let  her  go  Gallagher," 
wrote  a  very  plain  story  about  Crawford  and  Hickok  for 
a  New  York  and  a  Chicago  daily.     They  read  it,  and 


112  MEMOIR. 

without  making  an  inquiry,  decided  that  it  was  my  work. 
Like  the  giant  in  the  story,  they  wanted  blood,  and  on 
their  way  to  Cleveland  drew  up  the  plan  of  attack.  James 
Dustin  afterwards  told  me  that  the  original  plan  was  to 
wait  until  an  opportunity  presented  itself  and  have  two 
or  three  swipes  do  the  work,  but  Crawford  threw  the  fat 
on  the  fire  by  making  an  assault  with  a  cane  in  front  of 
the  grand  stand.  His  friends  gathered  him  up  and  led 
him  away,  while  Hickok,  the  "Counsellor's"  chief  of  staff, 
turned  Alfred  S.  loose  on  the  track  to  bring  up  the  reserve, 
consisting  of  the  rag-tag  and  bob-tail  of  creation  which 
always  springs  to  the  surface  when  a  disturbance  is  started 
on  a  race  track.  Like  the  king  in  the  story,  after  leading 
the  swipes  up  to  the  grand  stand,  Hickok  led  them  back- 
again  and  the  war  was  over.  At  the  request  of  Colonel 
Edwards,  Secretary  Fasig,  and  a  number  of  other  gentle- 
men who  were  present,  the  matter  was  allowed  to  blow 
over.  Later  on  at  Lexington,  Crawford  served  notice  on 
a  number  of  turf  correspondents  to  leave  town  or  there 
would  be  a  funeral.  Xo  one  fled,  there  were  no  vacant 
chairs,  and  some  one  put  Crawford  to  bed.  The  bad  man 
was  a  bluff. 

In  the  fall  of  1890,  when  the  stakes  of  the  National 
Association  of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders  were  being  de- 
cided over  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park,  it  was  learned 
that  W.  G.  Pollock  had  purchased  a  twenty-acre  lot  to  the 
south-west  of  the  track  and  near  the  quarter  pole.  In  a 
short  time  he  had  a  bachelors'  hall  on  a  bluff  overlooking 
Doan  Brook,  which  winds  from  Wade  to  Gordon  Park- 
before  falling  into  Lake  Erie.  The  old  farm  house  was 
repaired  for  John  Splan  and  wife,  and  a  300-foot  training 
barn  built.  The  place  was  called  Doan  Brook  Farm,  the 
approach  to  it  at  that  date  being  through  Apple  Tree  Lane. 


1891  sale.  113 

It  disappeared  in  1894  to  make  way  for  the  Boulevard, 
which  also  necessitated  the  removal  of  W.  G.  Pollock's 
house  to  a  lot  between  Splan's  and  the  Driving  Park.  Be- 
fore the  training  stable  was  completed,  Brasfield  &  Co., 
of  Lexington,  Ky.,  made  arrangements  to  hold  a  sale  there 
the  last  week  in  April  of  each  year  for  an  indefinite  period. 
A  short  time  after  this  announcement  was  made  in  the  col- 
umns of  the  American  Sportsman,  it  was  learned  that 
William  B.  Fasig  and  C.  F.  Emery  had  decided  to  con- 
tinue the  sale  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Emery  & 
Fasig,  and  that  they  had  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  St. 
Clair  Street,  opposite  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park,  on 
which  they  built  the  largest  and  most  complete  sale  mart 
in  America.  Brasfield  &  Co.  selected  April  27  to  May  2 
as  the  date  for  their  first  sale,  and  continued  in  the  field 
until  the  middle  of  March,  when  it  was  abandoned  on  ac- 
count of  the  firm's  inability  to  lease  the  stabling  of  the 
Cleveland  Driving  Park  for  the  use  of  horses  consigned 
to  their  sale.  While  the  plan  on  the  south  side  of  the  track 
failed  to  mature,  Emery  and  Fasig  were  building  on  the 
north  side  and  cataloguing  stock  for  a  sale  May  4  to  9. 
The  building  was  completed  before  the  catalogue  was  is- 
sued. It  contained  the  breeding  of  five  hundred  and  fifty 
head,  and  presented  consignments  from  New  York  to  Cal- 
ifornia. Seven  days  were  required  to  dispose  of  four  hun- 
dred and  nine  lots  for  $166,080,  an  average  of  $406.11. 
H.  S.  Henry  had  the  highest-priced  consignment,  the  re- 
turns for  his  lot  showing  that  Count  Wilkes  sold  for 
$5,600,  while  $17,030  was  paid  for  the  five  Electioneer 
mares  Suisun,  Unique,  May  Bud,  Cora  Bell  and  Coraline ; 
Suisun  brought  $7,000  and  Coraline  $3,950.  The  report 
of  the  sale  also  shows  that  Don  Monteith  sold  for  $3,400, 
Viola  Clay  for  $3,100,  Abbiedeen  $2,500,  and  eleven 
others  at  figures  between  $1,000  and  $2,000. 


114  MEMOIR. 

Two  world's  records  were  made  at  the  Cleveland 
Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1891,  and  if  I  am  not  very  much 
mistaken  one  of  them  will  stand  for  many  a  day,  if  not  for 
all  time.  The  record  referred  to  is  the  triple  team  mark 
which  was  made  when  Geers  drove  Justina,  Globe  and 
Belle  Hamlin  in  2  114,  the  last  half  of  the  mile  being  trot- 
ted in  1  :o6^4,  and  the  last  quarter  in  33  seconds.  This 
performance  was  a  special  triumph  for  the  Village  Farm, 
as  the  three  horses  in  the  team  were  by  Hamlin's  Almont, 
Jr.,  and  all  of  their  dams  were  bred  by  C.  J.  Hamlin.  The 
other  world's  record  was  also  made  by  a  member  of  the 
Village  Farm  stable  when  Hal  Pointer  defeated  Yolo 
Maid  and  Dallas  in  2  :io^4,  2  :io}4,  2  :io}i,  the  time  made 
being  the  three  fastest  consecutive  heats  on  record,  Hal 
Pointer  in  this  race  making  a  faster  average  than  the 
2:09^4,  2:12^2,  2.13  which  was  placed  to  his  credit  when 
he  defeated  B.  B.  at  Terre  Haute  in  1890.  In  the  first 
heat  of  his  race  at  Cleveland,  Hal  Pointer  paced  the  last 
half  in  1  105,  and  in  the  second  heat  he  stepped  the  last 
quarter  in  31  seconds.  Two  trotters  by  Mambrino  King 
also  showed  well  at  this  meeting.  In  the  2  :2i  class  Night- 
ingale forced  Lakewood  Prince  out  in  2:16^4,  in  a  de- 
ciding heat,  and  Nettie  King,  the  dam  of  The  Abbot 
2:03^4.  won  a  fourth  heat  in  2:22,  and  second  money  in 
the  2  :2i  class  which  was  placed  to  the  credit  of  Little  Al- 
bert after  a  five-heat  struggle  in  which  Dandy,  Honest 
George  and  Walton  Boy  were  very  busy.  On  the  same 
afternoon,  George  Starr  also  won  a  race  with  Direct,  that 
created  consternation  in  the  betting  ring.  The  "little 
black  rascal''  had  been  sick,  and  it  was  understood  that 
he  would  not  try  to  defeat  Mascot.  On  this  account  it  was 
considered  sure  money  to  back  Mascot,  while  there  was 
also  a  strong  play  for  Direct  to  come  second.     Starr  was 


TEMPLE    BAR    EXPELLED.  115 

not  familiar  with  that  kind  of  racing,  and  instead  of  shoo- 
ing Mascot  out,  he  was  eighth  in  the  first  heat  and  third 
in  the  second.  Mascot  won  the  first  in  2  :i6^4,  with  Frank 
Dortch  second,  and  the  next  in  2:15^,  the  place  going  to 
Mary  Centlivre.  As  soon  as  Monroe  Salisbury  ran  his 
eye  over  the  summary,  he  instructed  Starr  to  go  on  with 
Direct.  In  the  third  heat  Mascot  gave  it  up  when  Direct 
came  to  time  in  the  stretch,  and  the  black  horse  won  in 
2:1$%.  The  next  two  also  went  to  Direct  in  2  :  18,  2  :i9^4, 
Frank  Dortch  being  beaten  a  head  in  the  deciding  heat. 
At  this  meeting  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company  wTas 
also  forced  to  place  its  stamp  of  disapproval  upon  the  un- 
sportsmanlike methods  adopted  by  those  who  controlled 
Temple  Bar  and  Leicester.  Up  to  that  day  James  H. 
Gpldsmith  had  not  lost  a  race  with  Leicester,  while  Tem- 
ple Bar  had  won  seven  races  out  of  eight  starts  in  seven 
weeks,  his  last  triumph  being  in  the  Merchants  and  Manu- 
facturers' Stakes  at  Detroit,  where  he  defeated  Prodigal. 
Leicester  started  favorite  in  the  2:19  class,  and  won  the 
first  heat  in  2:18,  Temple  Bar  not  being  out  for  it.  On 
the  second  trip  the  two  stallions  were  lapped  at  the  three- 
quarter  pole  in  1  43 yi.  As  they  passed  the  distance 
George  Spear  stopped  driving,  while  Goldsmith  moved 
out  and  won  the  heat  by  two  lengths  in  2:17^4.  Colonel 
Edwards  did  not  like  the  drive  and  spoke  about  it  at  the 
time.  Prior  to  the  third  heat  he  requested  H.  M.  Hanna, 
who  was  one  of  the  judges,  to  keep  his  glass  on  Temple 
Bar.  The  two  stallions  trotted  away  from  the  wire  like  a 
team  and  lay  together  to  the  three-quarters,  where  Tem- 
ple Bar  made  a  break.  Leicester  was  all  out,  and  when 
he  made  a  mistake  Aline  stepped  by  and  won  the  heat  in 
2:20T4-  Spear's  driving  showed  plainly  why  Leicester  was 
the  favorite,  and  the  judges  requested  Gus  Wilson  to  drive 


116  MEMOIR. 

Temple  Bar.  As  is  well  known,  he  went  on  and  won  in 
2:j8^4,  2:19^4,  2:23,  after  showing  Temple  Bar's  tre- 
mendous flight  of  speed  by  trotting  the  last  half  in  the 
fourth  heat  in  1  \oj %,  and  the  third  quarter  of  it  in  32^2 
seconds  in  order  to  stall  a  rush  made  by  Junemont.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  race  there  was  a  brief  consultation 
in  the  judges'  stand,  and  then  William  Edwards  stepped 
to  the  rail  and  announced  that  the  manner  in  which  Tem- 
ple Bar  had  been  driven  by  Spear  was  an  insult  to  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  who  had  come  to  the  track 
to  see  an  honest  race,  and  that  it  was  the  order  of  the 
judges  that  Temple  Bar,  his  owner  and  driver,  be  ex- 
pelled. It  was  a  sad  ending  to  Temple  Bar's  brilliant 
campaign,  or  as  C.  A.  McCully  put  it  in  one  of  his  let- 
ters :  "Last  week  he  had  roses  on  his  stall  door  in  De- 
troit. Tonight  there  is  nothing  but  crape  on  the  latch." 
The  other  races  programmed  for  the  meeting  were  won 
by  Commonwealth,  Maggie  R.,  Happy  Bee,  Alambrino 
Maid,  Ivorine,  Ryland  T.  and  Alvin,  while  Pickpania  and 
Wonder  won  the  team  race,  in  which  they  trotted  a  fourth 
heat  in  2  .22,  Splan  carrying  them  to  the  three  quarters  in 
1  47^2   with   Problem  and  Abbie  V. 

In  September  Cleveland  had  two  week's  racing  over 
the  mile  track,  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Cleveland  Driving 
Park  Company  being  followed  by  a  four-day  meeting  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  Ohio  Association  of  Trotting 
Horse  Breeders.  On  three  of  the  mornings  of  the  first 
week,  Emery  and  Fasig  had  a  sale,  at  which  forty-two 
head  were  sold  for  $41,870.  On  the  opening  day  Fred 
Folger  was  bid  off  for  $1,150,  and  on  the  second  day 
Millard  Sanders  sold  ten  head  of  Count  Valensin's 
stock  for  $29,485.  In  this  consignment  Simmocolon  sold 
for  $13,000,  while  Ferndale,  a  yearling  filly  that  had  the 


MOLLIE    A.    A    RINGER  11" 

day  before  trotted  a  quarter  in  thirty-six  seconds,  brought 
$6,000,  and. Duchess,  by  Sidney,  $3,000.  Lea,  a  sister 
to  Adonis  and  Gold  Leaf,  sold  for  $1,750,  and  Willow,  a 
black  colt  by  Simmocolon,  $2,100. 

The  fall  meeting  of  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Com- 
pany opened  with  a  two-year-old  stake,  in  which  Monbars 
distanced  Roman,  his  only  competitor,  in  2:22^4,  the  last 
half  of  the  mile  being  trotted  in  1  :o834.  This  event  was 
followed  by  a  2:40  class,  in  which  an  unknown  mare 
named  Mollie  A.  defeated  the  favorite,  Myrtle  R.  The 
Mollie  A.  people  made  a  good  winning  in  the  betting 
ring,  and  had  smooth  sailing  until  the  following  morn- 
ing, when  L.  H.  Eckhart,  a  Buffalo  breeder  that  had  a 
few  horses  in  the  sale,  remembered  that  Mollie  A., 
owned  bv  H.  Allen,  of  Buffalo,  was  lame  and  turned  out. 
This  caused  Secretary  Fasig  to  look  up  his  correspond- 
ence, and  he  found  that  while  the  mare  was  entered  from 
Buffalo,  the  party  making  the  entry  telegraphed  from 
Palmyra.  N.  Y.,  to  learn  if  it  had  been  received.  On  the 
dav  of  the  race,  Mollie  A.'s  driver  had  given  his  name  to 
the  clerk  of  the  course  as  Hall.  On  the  following  day. 
when  he  arrived  at  the  track,  he  was  identified  by  at  least 
a  dozen  men  as  the  expelled  driver  W.  B.  Wright.  Look- 
ing up  Secretary  Fasig,  Wright  asked  for  the  winnings 
of  the  mare,  and  was  told  that  he  would  have  to  wait  for 
Colonel  Edwards  to  sign  the  check,  and  that  he  would 
not  be  out  to  the  track  before  noon.  In  the  interval,  a 
warrant  was  sworn  out  for  Wright  and  he  was  arrested. 
Mollie  A.  was  placed  under  lock  and  key  and  everybody 
in  the  city  was  busy  guessing  what  mare  Wright  and  his 
confederates  had.  On  the  third  day  of  the  meeting,  C.  F. 
Emery,  taking  the  mare  as  security,  went  on  Wright's 
bond.    As  soon  as  he  was  free,  Wright  came  forward  and 


118  MEMOIR. 

stated  that  the  mare  he  had  driven  under  the  name  of 
Mollie  A.  was  Tempest,  2:19,  by  Hawthorne.  She  was 
bred  at  Stockton,  Cal.,  had  been  shipped  to  South 
America  and  brought  back  to  the  United  States  by  Ver- 
mont parties,  who  were  then  shipping  horses  to  the  Ar- 
gentine Republic.  As  soon  as  these  facts  were  laid  be- 
fore the  judges,  they  expelled  Wright,  together  with  the 
mare  and  her  owner.  The  other  races  at  this  meeting 
were  won  by  Abbie  V.,  Major,  Rosa  C,  Caesar,  Happy 
Bee,  Lobasco,  Jerry  L.,  Franceps,  Reuben  W.  and  Po- 
cahontas Prince.  Fasig's  horse,  Wyandot,  trotted  to  a 
record  of  2  w^/z  in  the  fifth  heat  of  the  race  won  by  Jerry 
L.  While  being  cooled  out,  a  hernia  trouble  that  had 
bothered  him  before,  developed.  He  died  the  following 
day  and  was  buried  under  the  big  tree  in  the  infield  near 
the  quarter  pole.  The  Ohio  Breeders'  meeting  the  follow- 
ing week  opened  with  a  surprise,  when  Nickel  Plate,  a 
45  to  1  shot,  won  the  2  135  trot  in  straight  heats.  That 
race,  and  the  2:17  trot,  in  which  Lobasco  defeated  Gold 
Leaf  after  the  latter  had  won  two  heats,  were  the  best 
events  during  the  week,  while  Myrtle  R.  atoned  for  her 
defeat  by  Mollie  A.  by  winning  the  2  130  trot  after  Gar- 
net had  scored  twice.  The  first  premiums  in  the  other 
events  on  the  programme  were  awarded  Heward  H., 
Dutch  Girl,  St.  Vincent,  Cadmus  Jr.,  Prince  M.,  Martha 
Washington,  St.  Lookout,  Elyrina,  Coralloid,  Bashford, 
Keokee,  Coastman,  Belle  Cassett,  Jessie  L.  and  Patroclea. 
In  her  race  Keokee  trotted  to  a  record  of  2:21^2,  and 
later  in  the  season  Fasig  drove  her  a  mile  to  wagon  in 
2:23^,  last  half  in  1  :io^. 

Emery  and  Fasig  held  two  sales  in  the  spring  of  1892, 
the  first  being  billed  for  February  29  to  March  5.  For 
this   sale  four  hundred  head  were  catalogued,  and  two 


1892    MEETING.  119 

hundred  and  seventy-seven  lots  sold  for  $141,590.  The 
Shady  Side  Farm  consignment  from  Louisville,  Ky.,  was 
the  star  feature,  and  as  the  sale,  as  Fasig  termed  it  in  his 
advertising,  was  "imperative  and  absolute,"  the  pros- 
pective buyers  bid  freely.  The  handsome  stallion 
Greenlander,  2:15^4,  was  the  highest-priced  lot.  He 
sold  for  $9,500,  while  Earl,  2:23^4,  his  stable  companion, 
realized  $5,100.  Of  the  other  members  of  the  consign- 
ment, Greenlander  Boy  sold  for  $2,800,  Gypsy  Earl, 
$2,050 ;  the  brood  mare  Aurelia,  $4,800,  and  Katie  Wilkes 
$3,000.  At  the  sale  thirty  head  sold  for  $1,000  or  over, 
this  list  including  in  addition  to  those  already  named, 
Persica,  $3,600;  Fanchion,  $2,700;  Brilliant,  $2,525,  and 
Edna,  $2,025.  The  second  sale  was  held  May  17  to  20. 
It  failed  to  come  up  to  expectations,  there  being  but  four 
of  the  one  hundred  and  eighteen  head  sold  for  four  fig- 
ures. They  were  Dirigo,  for  which  $10,500  was  bid; 
Wilmarch,  $2,625  ;  Elda  B.,  $1,950,  and  Tip  Tyler,  $1,000. 
At  the  March  sale,  W.  B.  Fasig  purchased  in  partnership 
with  Volney  French,  the  black  gelding  Rifle,  by  Elyria, 
for  $520.  In  due  time  the  youngster  developed  into  a 
trotter,  and  after  being  campaigned  by  Fasig,  who  event- 
ually became  sole  owner,  trained  on  to  a  record  of 
2:1124. 

Nine  of  the  twelve  class  races,  on  the  programme  for 
the  Cleveland  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1892,  were  won  by 
the  favorites,  the  three  that  failed  to  connect  being  Kath- 
erine  S.  in  the  first  race  on  the  card,  which  was  won  by 
Myrtle  R.,  the  Texas  horse,  H.  C.  T.,  and  Kitty  Bayard. 
On  the  opening  day  Martha  Wilkes  and  Robert  J.  made 
good,  the  Hartford  gelding  reducing  the  race  record  for 
four-year-old  pacers  to  2:12^,  a  mark  that  he  cut  to 
2  109^4  at  Buffalo  the  following  week  in  his  memorable 


120  MEMOIR. 

five-heat  battle  with  Flying  Jib.  Martha  Wilkes  and 
Grant's  Abdallah  won  their  engagement  on  the  second 
day,  while  The  Raven,  after  a  postponement  over  night, 
won  the  2  \2j  class  in  which  Magnolia  and  H.  C.  T.  each 
had  two  heats  to  their  credit.  The  2:17  class  proved  the 
best  race  of  the  meeting.  The  list  of  starters  presented 
the  names  of  Walter  E.,  Little  Albert,  Abbie  V.,  Hazel 
Wilkes,  Honest  George,  J.  B.  Richardson,  Sadie  M.,  Min- 
nie Wilkes,  Lakewood  Prince  and  Sprague  Golddust.  Of 
the  ten  starters  six  had  a  strong  individual  following  until 
the  weight  of  the  Hamlin  money  made  Honest  George  a 
favorite.  Geers  had  had  him  hitched  to  a  bike  sulky, 
there  being  but  two  or  three  on  the  grounds,  and  the  dif- 
ference between  it  and  the  high  wheels  enabled  the  In- 
diana bred  gelding  to  pull  off  the  race  after  losing  a  heat 
on  account  of  a  break,  and  three  very  close  finishes,  there 
being  only  "an  eyelash/'  as  a  local  reporter  remarked, 
between  him  and  Little  Albert  when  they  dashed  under 
the  wire  in  the  third  heat  in  2  :i55^.  In  the  deciding  mile 
Abbie  V.  was  at  his  shoulder  in  2:15*4.  Turner  drove  a 
splendid  heat,  but  the  Aberdeen  mare  could  not  reach. 
The  race  won  by  Honest  George  was  sandwiched  with  the 
2:19  pace,  in  which  Flying  Jib  won  as  he  pleased,  after 
an  easy  mile  in  the  first  heat  which  went  to  Expert  Prince 
in  2:13*4-  The  other  winners  for  the  week  were  Belle 
Vara,  Alvin  and  Merry  Chimes,  the  last  named  going  to 
the  front  in  the  2  123  pace  in  which  Hal  Dillard  won  the 
first  and  second  heats,  and  Walnut  Boy  the  fourth  and 
fifth.  In  the  line  of  specials  there  was  a  team  race  in 
which  Captain  and  Edith  defeated  Wonder  and  Blue 
Charlie,  the  third  heat  in  the  event  being  trotted  in  2  '.2^/2, 
while  Belle  Hamlin  and  Globe  stepped  a  mile  to  pole  in 
2:13^,  and  Nancy  Hanks  trotted  in  2:13. 


the  elyria's  winning.  121 

The  races  at  the  Cleveland  fall  meeting  in  1892  were 
np  to  the  Grand  Circuit  standard.  The  horses,  hitched  to 
bike  sulkies,  the  high-wheelers  having  disappeared  with- 
in a  week  of  the  summer  meeting,  at  which  there  were 
two  or  three,  reeled  off  miles  at  a  rate  which  proved  that 
the  ingenious  Yankee  who  had  attached  a  pair  of  bicycle 
wheels  to  a  sulky  frame  had  opened  another  door  for  rec- 
ord-breakers. In  the  first  heat  of  the  free-for-all,  George 
Saunders,  the  driver  of  Clingstone  in  his  palmy  days,  re- 
duced his  old  favorite's  race  record  of  2  114  to  2  113^4  with 
Evangeline,  and  made  a  still  further  cut  in  it  in  the  fifth 
heat,  when  the  magnificent  four-year-old  romped  under 
the  wire  in  2:1 1^4,  with  Lakewood  Prince,  Junemont,  and 
the  stout-hearted  Nightingale  behind  her.  In  a  four-year- 
old  stake  Hulda  defeated  Muta  Wilkes  and  four  others  in 
2:iSy2,  2:15*4,  2:1534,  while  Midnight  Chimes,  a  three- 
year-old  filly  that  dropped  dead  in  a  race  at  Mystic  Park 
a  few  weeks  later,  stepped  away  from  Mambrino  Queen 
and  Trevillian  in  2:18*4,  2:16*4,  2:19*4.  In  the  two- 
year-old  stake  Sabledale  defeated  Princess  Royal,  Mam- 
brino Swift  and  Tuscarora,  in  2:23^,  2:21^,  her  race 
beino;  sandwiched  with  the  2:18  class  in  which  the  four- 
year-old  colt  Moquette,  by  Wilton,  sailed  off  in  front  of 
Lady  Belle,  Una  Wilkes,  Fred  S.  Wilkes  and  Bonhomme 
for  three  miles  in  2:14*4,  2:15*4,  2:13^,  a  record  which 
he  reduced  to  2:10  at  Richmond,  Ind.,  the  following 
week.  The  get  of  the  Mambrino  King  horse,  Elyria, 
made  a  remarkable  showing  at  this  meeting.  He  had 
seven  starters.  In  the  2  :2~  class  Muggins  defeated  a  field 
of  fifteen  in  a  four-heat  race,  and  made  a  record  of  2  :2oy2. 
Gertrude  won  the  2:16  class  from  a  field  of  nine,  her 
fastest  heat  being  trotted  in  2:15^4.  In  the  three-year- 
old     stake    Mambrino    Queen    was   second    to    Midnight 


122  MEMOIR. 

Chimes  in  2  :i6j4-  Her  sister,  Mambrino  Swift,  was  third 
to  Sabledale  in  the  two-year-old  stake.  Peveril  finished 
third  in  his  race,  while  Sam  Bassett  was  unplaced,  and 
Elixir  divided  the  honors  with  Eloise  in  the  team  race, 
which  they  won  in  2:34,  2:35,  2:31^.  The  other  win- 
ners during  the  week  were  Robert  J.,  Incense,  Wilkie 
Knox,  Cassie,  Riverside,  Duchess,  Jean  Wilkes  and  Ed 
Eastin.  At  the  Ohio  Breeders'  meeting  the  following 
week,  the  regular  events  on  the  programme  were  won  by 
Citizen,  Patroclea,  Mambrino  Swift,  Belleflower,  Ah 
There,  Florida  Monarch,  Sam  Bassett  and  Harry  Davis. 
Two  sons  of  George  Wilkes  also  started  at  this  meeting, 
Bud  Crook  making  a  pacing  record  of  2  :iSJA,  and  Wilkie 
Collins  a  trotting  record  of  2:30^.  WTith  this  meeting 
William  B.  Fasig's  connection  as  an  official  with  racing 
affairs  in  Cleveland  terminated.  Sidney  W.  Giles,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  was  elected  to  succeed  him  as  Secretary  of 
the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company,  while  the  writer 
was  selected  to  wind  up  the  affairs  of  the  Ohio  Associa- 
tion of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders,  all  of  the  money  on 
hand  being  added  to  three  stakes  that  were  trotted  the  fol- 
lowing September,  Operetta  winning  the  race  for  two- 
year-olds,  Lea  the  race  for  three-year-olds,  and  Joe  Gale 
the  four-year-old  event. 

Before  following  William  B.  Fasig  to  New  York, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  newly  organized  Trotting 
Department  of  the  Tattersall  Companies  in  America,  a 
brief  resume  of  the  meetings  given  by  the  Cleveland  Driv- 
ing Park  Company  from  1892  will  be  presented  in  order 
to  complete  the  record.  When  the  bell  rang  for  the  Cleve- 
land Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1893  the  high-wheel  sulky 
had  become  a  thing  of  the  past,  and  the  marked  reduction 
in  the  average  rate  of  speed  at  the  meetings  that  season 


1 893   MEETING.  123 

showed  plainer  than  words  the  difference  between  the  two 
styles  of  vehicles,  or,  in  other  words,  the  little  wheels  had 
added  four  seconds,  and  in  some  cases  more,  to  the  speed 
of  the  light  harness  performer.  In  1892,  with  a  few  bike 
sulkies  in  the  races  at  Cleveland,  thirty-four  heats  trotted 
averaged  2:20^4,  and  seventeen  paced  averaged  2:15^4. 
In  1893,  when  there  were  two  and  three-year-old  events 
on  the  programme  the  thirty-six  heats  trotted  averaged 
2:16,  and  the  fourteen  paced  averaged  2:12,  making  the 
average  for  the  meeting  at  both  gaits  2:14^4.  The  race 
records  of  the  track  for  both  trotters  and  pacers  were  also 
reduced  during  the  week,  the  gray  horse,  Guy,  winning 
the  first  heat  of  the  free-for-all  pace  in  2  :o8,  while  Little 
Albert  reduced  Evangeline's  mark  to  2:10  in  the  first 
heat  of  the  free-for-all  trot,  which  proved  the  best  open 
event  ever  trotted  over  the  Cleveland  track  up  to  that 
time.  Ten  horses  took  the  word  and  no  one  appeared 
to  be  very  anxious  to  name  a  winner.  Muta  Wilkes  and 
Ryland  T.  were  considered  the  pick,  but  both  of  them  fin- 
ished behind  the  money,  the  Guy  Wilkes  mare  being 
drawn  after  trotting  three  heats.  In  the  first  heat  Muta 
Wilkes  rushed  off  in  front,  and  led  to  the  half  in  1  105^2, 
with  the  black  mare,  Nightingale,  at  her  wheel.  After 
passing  the  half  Little  Albert  began  to  close  on  the  lead- 
ers. He  trotted  the  third  quarter  in  31  seconds,  passed 
Muta  Wilkes  at  the  head  of  the  stretch,  and  beat  Night- 
ingale a  head  in  2  :io.  The  black  mare,  Nightingale,  and 
Little  Albert  were  out  in  front  in  the  second  heat  when 
they  struck  the  stretch.  At  this  point  Walter  E.  began 
to  show.  Stewart  forced  him  between  the  leaders.  The 
three  raced  head  and  head  to  the  wire,  WTalter  E.  leaving 
his  feet  in  the  last  stride.  Little  Albert  was  awarded  the 
heat  in   2:11,   with  Nightingale  second,   and  Walter  E. 


124  MEMOIR. 

third.  On  the  next  two  trips  Little  Albert  broke  at  the 
finish  and  Walter  E.  won  in  2:10  and  2\nl/2,  Nightin- 
gale being  out  of  it  on  account  of  a  break  in  the  first  quar- 
ter of  the  third  heat,  and  on  the  next  trip  she  made  an- 
other mistake  and  was  distanced.  The  struggle  in  the 
fifth  heat  was  between  the  two  heat  winners,  and  the 
Mambrino  King  mare,  Nightingale.  The  three  were 
lapped  at  the  half  in  1  :o8,  but  from  that  point  the  Village 
Farm  mare  was  unsteady,  while  Walter  E.  broke  inside 
the  distance,  Little  Albert  winning  the  deciding  heat  in 
the  fastest  five-heat  race  on  record  to  that  date  in  2:13. 
The  official  records  for  the  meeting  show  that  the  other 
winners  were  Alejandri,  Miss  Lida,  May  Marshall,  Or- 
iole, Jay  Hawker,  Hal  Dillard,  Director's  Flower,  Ellard, 
Hal  Pointer,  Hazel  Wilkes  and  E.  T.  H.,  while  Directum 
was  started  to  high-wheel  sulky  to  reduce  the  2  :o8^J  of 
Maud  S.  Hitched  to  a  sulky  that  had  been  used  by  Cling- 
stone, the  horse  that  eventually  reduced  the  stallion  record 
to  2:05^4,  passed  the  half  in  1  104^4,  the  second  quarter 
having  been  trotted  in  3134  •  As  he  swung  into  the  turn 
Kelley  took  him  back  a  little  and  his  hocks  hit  the  axle  of 
the  sulky.  This  was  followed  by  a  break,  the  mile  being 
finished  in  2:14^,  which  stands  as  the  last  attempt  of  a 
trotter  to  bid  for  the  record  to  the  old  style  sulky.  The 
fall  meeting  in  1893  was  held  in  October.  It  proved  a 
plain,  every-day  trotting  meeting,  with  large  fields  and 
close  finishes,  but  nothing  sensational,  the  first  money  in 
the  different  events  going  to  Nellie  Hardwood,  May 
Homer,  Lora,  Racine,  Gertrude,  Red  Line,  Chimes  E.  and 
J.  M.  K.  In  the  first  heat  of  the  2  124  trot  the  cream-col- 
ored gelding,  Elixir,  by  Elyria,  gave  a  remarkable  ex- 
hibition of  trotting  without  a  driver.  In  a  collision  on  the 
first  turn  his  driver  was  thrown  out  and  the  reins  caught 


1 894  meeting.  125 

in  the  guard  of  the  sulky  wheel  so  as  to  steady  him.  When 
the  dust  cleared  away  Elixir  was  trotting  off  in  front,  and 
finished  first,  his  time  being  very  close  to  2  :2c  He  was 
placed  last,  the  heat  going  to  May  Homer  in  2:2134. 
Elixir  continued  in  the  race,  winning  the  third  heat  in 
2  \22y2,  and  second  money.  On  the  third  day  of  the  meet- 
ing Hal  Dillard  started  against  his  race  record  of  2  :o8^ 
and  reduced  it  to  2  :oy^4,  the  last  half  being  paced  in 

1  102^4.     He  was  driven  by  John  Call. 

A  series  of  track  records  and  a  number  of  world's 
records  were  changed  at  the  Cleveland  Grand  Circuit 
meeting  in  1894.  On  "Big  Thursday"  Alix  won  the  free- 
for-all  in  2:08,  2:08^4,  2:09^,  the  three  fastest  consecu- 
tive heats  ever  made  by  a  trotter  up  to  that  time,  the  aver- 
age time  being  2  :o8  7-12.  The  ink  that  recorded  the  fact 
in  the  judges'  book  was  scarcely  dry  before  Ryland  T. 
changed  the  figures  by  winning  the  2:11  class  from  a 
field  of  seven  which  included  Ellard,  Lord  Clinton  and 
Pamlico,  in  2  :o8^4,  2  '.oy}^,  2  :o8^4,  an  average  of  2  :o8>4- 
In  the  first  heat  of  her  race  Alix  reduced  the  track  record 
for  trotters  to   2  :o8,   and   this   was  in  turn   reduced  to 

2  :oy}i  by  Ryland  T.,  that  time  also  being  a  new  world's 
record  for  geldings.  On  this  memorable  day  Joe  Patchen 
won  the  2:20  pace  in  2:11^,  2:10^4,  2:10,  and  Ballona 
the  2  :io  trot  in  2  :iij4,  2  :n^4,  2  :i2,/i-  The  returns  for 
the  afternoon  showed  that  the  nine  heats  trotted  averaged 
2:092-3,  while  the  three  heats  paced  averaged  2:102-3, 
making  the  day's  average  2:09  11-12,  which  was  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  the  turf  that  a  day's  average  was 
below  2:10.  The  free-for-all  pace  on  the  following  day 
also  presented  another  series  of  record-breaking  heats. 
The  first  mile  was  won  by  Crawford  in  2:o8T4,  and  the 
second   by   Saladin   in   2:06*4.,   a   new   track   record  for 


126  MEMOIR. 

pacers,  that  time  taking  the  place  of  the  2  :o6j4  which 
Johnston  made  to  the  old-style  sulky  in  1889.  Saladin 
caught  Robert  J.  napping  in  the  second  heat,  and  when 
Geers  came  out  for  the  third  he  had  a  blind  bridle  on  the 
Hartford  gelding.  From  that  time  there  was  nothing  in 
the  race  but  Robert  J.,  his  first  winning  heat  being  in 
2  :05^4,  a  new  track  record.  Cobwebs  and  Alar  also  won 
races  on  that  afternoon,  while  on  the  last  day  of  the  meet- 
ing Moonstone  and  Azote  went  to  the  front,  the  latter 
trotting  the  deciding  heat  in  his  race  in  2  no.  In  the  first 
race  at  this  meeting,  Red  Bud,  a  five  to  one  favorite,  was 
distanced  for  fouling  Expressive  in  the  fourth  heat  of  the 
three-year-old  stake,  first  money  going  to  the  Palo  Alto 
bred  filly,  and  second  to  Limonero,  who  was  foaled  on  the 
same  farm.  The  other  winners  on  the  opening  days  were 
Sally  Simmons,  Miss  Nelson,  Mary  Best,  Clayhontas  and 
Eloise.  There  were  twenty-one  starters  in  the  race  won 
by  Clayhontas.  He  drew  seventeenth  position,  started 
favorite,  and  after  three  heats  managed  to  work  his  way 
into  the  front  tier  and  win.  In  the  Alary  Best  race,  Rose 
Leaf  started  at  $25  to  $15  over  the  field.  She  failed  to  con- 
nect, as,  after  Mahogany  had  won  two  heats,  Goldsmith 
won  in  2:1254,  2:13^,  2:15^,  with  but  a  trifle  to  spare. 
Eloise,  the  winner  of  the  2  :20,  trot,  was  owned  by  Wil- 
liam B.  Fasig.  She  was  a  black  mare,  by  Kentucky  Prince, 
out  of  Camille,  by  Hambletonian.  Charles  Backman  bred 
her  at  Stony  Ford.  She  was  foaled  in  1886,  and  sold  to  H. 
M.  Hanna,  of  Cleveland.  In  1891  he  placed  her  in  Gus 
Wilson's  stable.  At  that  time  the  black  mare  was  referred 
to  as  a  sister  to  Stevie,  2  119,  a  tried  and  true  trotter  that 
had  been  "down  the  line"  in  fast  company.  Wilson  con- 
ditioned Eloise,  and  after  winning  a  first  and  second  with 
her  at  Lima,  drove  her  to  a  record  of  2  130  in  a  match 


1 3  127 

race  with  Neri  Newcomb,  on  October  21.  Her  next  ap- 
pearance was  in  a  team  race  at  the  Cleveland  fall  meeting 
in  1892,  when  Eloise  and  Elixir,  driven  by  William  B. 
Fasig,  defeated  two  other  pairs  and  made  a  record  ot 
2:31^4.  The  following  spring  Eloise  was  consigned  to 
the  May  sale  and  purchased  by  Fasig  and  Greenwood  for 
$1,025.  They  placed  her  in  Cope  Stinson's  stable  but  she 
failed  to  stand  the  preparation  and  was  turned  out  in 
August.  About  this  time  Fasig  also  purchased  T.  Green- 
wood's interest,  and  in  1894  "Benny"  and  Pat  Shank 
started  out  to  win  Grand  Circuit  races  with  Eloise.  After 
trotting  second  to  Rensselaer  Wilkes  at  Columbus,  they 
shipped  to  Detroit,  where  Eloise  was  entered  in  the  2  127 
class  for  trotters,  and  according  to  Fasig,  the  race  that 
followed  upset  all  of  his  hoodoo  calculations.  Aside  from 
meeting  a  cross-eyed  girl  with  red  hair  or  crossing  a 
funeral,  Fasig  considered  the  number  thirteen  as  unde- 
niable evidence  of  defeat  in  anything  he  might  be  con- 
nected with,  from  playing  marbles  to  flying  a  balloon.  On 
this  point  the  vein  of  superstition  ran  close  to  the  surface, 
but  Eloise  knocked  it  into  smithereens  when  she  put  her 
right  foot  forward  at  Detroit.  The  2  127  class  was  the 
third  race  on  the  card  for  the  first  day  of  the  meeting,  and 
when  Fasig  stepped  off  the  car  at  Grosse  Pointe,  he  found 
that  Eloise  was  number  thirteen  on  the  score  card.  This 
set  Fasig  thinking,  and  in  a  short  time  he  remembered 
that  Eloise  had  been  shipped  from  Columbus  on  Friday, 
July  13,  that  the  numbers  on  his  room  door  at  the  Russell 
House,  when  added  together  made  thirteen,  and  on  locat- 
ing Pat  Shank  he  found  Eloise  in  a  stall,  the  figures  on 
which  when  lumped  made  the  unlucky  number.  Vowing 
vengeance  on  Lem  Ullman,  the  programmer,  for  putting 
such  a  number  on  his  trotter,  Fasig  climbed  into  the  grand 


128  MEMOIR. 

stand,  satisfied  in  his  own  mind  that  either  Pat  Shank  or 
Eloise  would  break  a  leg  or  fall  over  the  fence  before  the 
race  was  finished.  When  the  race  was  called  it  was  found 
that  there  were  but  twelve  starters  and  Fasig  breathed 
easier.  He  even  bought  a  few  pools,  but  told  everyone  if 
that  thirteen  combination  could  win  they  could  have  all 
they  wanted  of  it.  Sixty-six  was  the  favorite.  He  did  not 
get  away  well  in  the  first  heat,  and  Clemmie  G.  II.  won  in 
2:1854,  with  Eloise  second.  Sixty-six  won  the  second 
heat,  Eloise  driving  him  out  in  2:i8y2,  and  on  the  third 
trip  the  Kentucky  Prince  mare  was  in  front  in  2  :i8}4-  By 
that  time  Sixty-Six  had  the  thumps  and  was  drawn,  while 
Eloise  went  on  and  won  in  2  119,  2:17. 

When  Eloise  won  at  Cleveland,  Fasig  was  as  happy  as 
a  boy  with  his  first  pair  of  red-topped  boots.  Time  and 
again  he  told  me  how,  on  the  morning  of  the  race,  "Knap" 
McCarthy  called  and  told  him  how  fast  Anna  Mace  could 
go.  The  wily  "Knap"  also  hinted  that  it  would  be  bad 
business  to  kill  off  such  a  fast  pair  of  mares  when  they 
had  the  race  between  them.  A  settlement  was  what  "Knap" 
was  after,  and  what  he  did  not  get,  as  the  crisis  was 
reached  when  Fasig  jumped  out  of  his  chair  in  the  office 
at  the  sale  building  and  pointing  towards  the  race  track 
said :  "Knap,  there  is  the  race  track.  If  you  can  beat 
Eloise,  put  on  your  trotting  shoes  and  do  it!"  He  tried, 
but  that  was  all  the  good  it  did  him,  as  after  Anna  Mace 
chased  Sixty-Six  out  in  2:15^  in  the  first  heat,  Eloise 
went  to  the  front  in  2:17,  2:15,  2:19^,  the  last  half  of 
her  second  winning  heat  being  trotted  in  1  :o6^4.  Eloise 
scored  another  first  at  Buffalo  the  following  week,  after 
which  she  was  laid  up  until  the  Medina  fair,  where  she 
landed  the  free-for-all,  and  was  then  shipped  to  Cleveland 
to  start  in  the  2  114  class  at  the  fall  meeting.    This  proved 


RIFLE.  129 

one  of  the  worst  snarled  up  races  ever  seen  on  a  track. 
There  were  seven  starters  and  nine  heats  were  trotted,  the 
time  in  all  of  them  being  below  2  :20  before  the  Judge 
announced  Newcastle  as  the  winner.  Of  the  other  starters 
Bourbon  Wilkes,  Jr.,  Eloise  and  Count  Robert  each  won 
two  heats,  while  Belle  Cassett  had  two  seconds  and  Io 
one  before  they  were  ruled  out.  At  this  meeting,  Fasig 
also  won  a  race  with  the  black  gelding  Rifle.  He  was  a 
handy  little  fellow  and  at  that  time  acted  as  if  he  were 
always  looking  about  for  a  bird  or  a  shadow  to  scare  him. 
Volney  French  brought  him  out  as  a  two-year-old  at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Ohio  /\ssociation  of  Trotting  Horse 
Breeders,  where  he  was  defeated  by  Operetta.  As  a 
three-year-old,  Rifle  won  two  races  at  Ashtabula  and  one 
over  the  Longview  track  at  Cleveland,  where  he  made  a 
record  of  2:3454.  He  also  trotted  third  to  Red  Bird  in 
a  stake  race  at  Milwaukee.  During  the  winter  Fasig 
purchased  Volney  French's  interest  in  Rifle  and  turned 
him  over  to  Pat  Shank.  In  1894  he  started  Rifle  in  five 
races  and  won  four  of  them,  giving  him  a  record  of 
2:18^4  in  the  fifth  heat  of  a  postponed  race  at  Tiffin,  O., 
where  he  defeated  a  field  of  fourteen.  At  this  race  meet- 
ing, Eloise  won  third  money  in  the  free-for-all,  her  sec- 
ond to  Magnolia  in  2  :i2>/i  being  the  fastest  mile  she  ever 
trotted  in  a  race.  Later  on  Fasig  also  hooked  Eloise  and 
Rifle  double.  The  first  time  they  turned  around  together 
they  reeled  off  a  mile  in  2:17,  and,  by  the  way,  if  you 
will  make  a  note  of  such  performances,  you  will  find  in 
nine  times  out  of  ten  the  first  time  a  pair  of  fast  harness 
performers  are  hitched  double  they  will  step  faster  than 
they  ever  will  afterwards.  This  was  true  of  Clingstone  and 
Guy,  Boralma  and  Senator  L.,  Direct  Hal  and  Prince 
Direct  and   a  dozen  other  pairs  that  I  can  now  call  to 


130  MEMOIR. 

mind.  But  this  is  a  long  jaunt  from  the  Cleveland  fall 
meeting  in  1894,  at  which  Fasig  won  a  first  with  Rifle  and 
a  third  with  Eloise.  The  other  winners  that  week  were 
Autrain,  Belle  J.,  Patience,  Wilkie  Knox,  Sable  Gift  and 
Florida  Monarch. 

In  1893,  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park  Company,  when 
fixing  the  amount  of  purses  for  its  Grand  Circuit  meeting, 
decided  to  give  the  -pacers  the  same  amount  of  purse 
money  in  the  class  races  as  the  trotters.  From  that  time 
to  the  present  it  has  annually  increased  the  number  of 
pacing  races,  until,  in  1901,  more  money  was  offered  for 
pacing  than  for  trotting  races.  In  1894,  the  association 
also  decided  to  add  one  more  day  to  its  meeting,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  present  (1902)  the  Cleveland  summer 
meeting  has  run  for  five  instead  of  four  days.  For  its 
meeting  in  1895,  the  Cleveland  Association  presented  a 
$38,000  programme,  the  list  of  events  showing  eleven 
races  for  trotters  and  four  for  pacers,  $28,000  being  set 
aside  for  the  former  and  $10,000  for  the  latter.  One  of 
the  trotting  events  was  declared  off  on  account  of  unfa- 
vorable weather,  reducing  the  number  of  races  at  that 
gait  to  ten  and  the  premiums  to  $35,000.  The  two  free- 
for-alls  were  the  star  events  at  the  meeting.  In  the  trot, 
Azote,  Hulda  and  Ryland  T.  started.  The  Guy  Wilkes 
mare  had  received  a  special  preparation  for  the  event, 
while  Azote  took  it  in  in  his  regular  run  of  races.  A  few 
of  the  wiser  ones  thought  that  Hulda,  who  had  recovered 
from  the  mishap  which  cost  her  first  money,  in  the  Colum- 
bian free-for-all  at  Chicago  in  1893,  would  win,  but,  when 
it  came  to  racing,  Azote  smothered  her.  In  the  first  heat 
McDowell  rushed  out  in  front  with  Azote  and  won  as  he 
pleased  in  2:06^,  Hulda  giving  it  up  when  inside  the 
distance.     The  first  half  of  the  heat  was  trotted  in  1 :02^4 


BIKE    SULKY    CUT    RECORDS.  131 

and  the  middle  half  in  I  :oi^.  The  time  made  also 
reduced  the  track  record  for  trotters  and  was  a  new 
world's  record  for  geldings.  In  the  second  heat,  Azote 
passed  the  three-quarters  in  I  133^2,  a  quarter  of  a  second 
slower  than  in  the  preceding  heat,  and,  as  Hulda  was  all 
out,  Azote  won  as  he  pleased  in  2  :o8^.  A  third  heat  in 
2  :io  finished  the  race.  In  the  free-for-all  pace,  Robert  J. 
was  considered  invincible,  so  much  so  that  he  was  barred 
in  the  early  betting,  the  bulk  of  the  play  being  on  Joe 
Patchen  or  Directly  for  the  place.  \\  nen  it  came  to 
racing  there  was  a  very  different  state  of  affairs,  as  in  the 
first  heat  Joe  Patchen  had  Robert  J.  beaten,  when  he 
slipped  on  a  wet  spot  near  the  long  distance  and  made  a 
break.  Robert  J.  won  the  heat  in  2:05^,  a  new  track 
record.  The  next  three  heats  were  won  by  Joe  Patchen, 
the  first  in  2  :o4j4,  by  a  head,  and  the  next  two  each  by  a 
length  in  2:05,  2:05^4.  The  mile  in  2:04%  reduced  the 
track  record  a  second,  while  the  2  105^4  in  the  fourth  heat 
was  a  world's  record,  and  the  time  for  the  race  was  six 
and  a  quarter  seconds  faster  than  the  best  on  record  for  a 
four-heat  race.  Those  who  attended  this  meeting  will 
recall  Larabie's  fourth  heat  in  2  :i2}^,  when  he  won  the 
three-year-old  race  and  the  straight  heat  victories  of  Bas- 
sora,  Sunland  Clay,  Bright  Regent,  Altao,  Bouncer  and 
Beuzetta,  and  the  stubbornly  contested  races  which  were 
won  by  Bravado,  Klamath,  Yalleau  and  the  hoppled  trot- 
ter El  Rami.  One  hundred  and  thirty  horses  started  in 
the  fourteen  races.  They  trotted  and  paced  sixty-one 
heats,  for  which  the  average  time  was  a  small  fraction 
under  2:11^4.  The  twenty-one  heats  paced  averaged 
2  :09  1-7,  and  the  forty  trotted  averaged  2:13  1-20.  Eight 
of  the  heats  trotted  were  in  2:10  or  better,  the  fastest 
being  Azote's  mile  in  2:06^,  and  the  slowest  during  the 


132  MEMOIR. 

week,  2:17^4,  by  El  Rami.  Twelve  of  the  heats  paced 
were  in  2:10  or  better.  Joe  Patchen's  mile  in  2 104.34 
was  the  fastest  at  that  gait,  while  the  slowest  of  the 
twenty-one  was  finished  in  2  :  12^.  These  figures,  when 
compared  with  the  column  of  averages  in  the  synopsis  of 
the  Cleveland  meetings,  show  plainer  than  words  the  part 
played  by  the  bike  sulky  in  the  reduction  of  the  uniform 
rate  of  speed  in  harness  races  and  this  applies  not  only  to 
the  mile  tracks  where  the  footing  is  as  smooth  as  a  bil- 
liard table,  but  also  over  the  "cow  path"  at  the  fairs.  This 
change  in  equipment  also  came  at  a  time  when  it  looked 
as  though  the  regulation  track  records  of  Maud  S.  and 
Johnston  would  never  be  beaten,  although  Sunol  had 
trotted  in  2:0834,  and  Palo  Alto  in  2:08%  over  the  kite 
track  at  Stockton  in  1891,  and  Direct  had  paced  in  2:06 
over  the  kite  track  at  Independence  the  same  season,  and 
since  that  time  the  landslide  of  race  and  time  records 
towards  the  two-minute  goal,  which  Star  Pointer  passed 
in  1897,  has  been  so  marked  that  one  can  be  pardoned,  if 
after  looking  over  the  field,  for  stating  that  the  bike  sulky 
did  more  to  increase  the  uniform  rate  of  speed  in  harness 
races  than  breeding  and  training  had  accomplished  in  the 
preceding  fifteen  years. 

The  last  fall  meeting  of  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park 
Company  was  held  October  1  to  3,  1895.  They  had  not 
been  a  success  pecuniarily,  notwithstanding  the  large 
entry  for  several  seasons,  and  after  this  venture  it  was 
decided  to  abandon  them.  At  this  meeting  one  hundred 
horses  started  in  the  ten  events  which,  under  the  old  ten 
per  cent,  of  entry  plan,  would  have  paid  the  purses,  but 
which  fell  a  trifle  short  under  the  new  plan,  five  per  cent, 
to  enter  and  five  per  cent,  additional  from  the  winner  of 
each  division  of  the  purse.     The  winners  for  the  week 


THE    GENTLEMEN'S   DRIVING   CLUB.  133 

were  Yiotta,  Avana,  Piletta,  Ouida,  J.  B.  S.,  Sanjak, 
Guinette,  Wanda,  Jim  Corbett  and  Bourbon  Wilkes,  Jr., 
and  that  the  races  were  well  contested  and  the  perform- 
ances high-class  was  evidenced  by  the  thirty-eight  heats 
recorded  in  the  judges'  book  and  the  average  time  of 
2:16^  for  the  twenty-five  heats  trotted,  and  2:1314  f°r 
the  thirteen  heats  paced,  making  the  average  for  the 
meeting  a  fraction  under  2  :iS3A-  During  the  week  Miss 
Rita  and  Josie  B.  made  a  pacing  record  of  2  113^  to  pole, 
and  the  two-year-old  colt  Ananias,  by  Patron,  2:1434, 
out  of  Annie  W.,  2 :20,  paced  an  exhibition  mile  in 
2  :i424- 

For  a  number  of  years  a  few  horse  owners  in  Cleve- 
land were  anxious  to  organize  a  driving  club  and  hold 
regular  matinees  over  the  mile  track.  The  plan  had  been 
tried  at  Buffalo  and  was  a  success  until  those  who  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  work  drifted  from  matinee  rac- 
ing into  the  professional  field,  while  a  club  at  St.  Louis 
had  for  time  out  of  mind  raced  regularly  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  its  members.  The  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  of 
New  York  had  also  from  time  to  time  offered  cups  for 
members'  races,  but  had  never  entered  what  could  be 
termed  the  matinee  field,  where  a  gentleman  is  willing  to 
strip  the  fastest  trotter  in  the  land  and  race  him  to  wagon 
for  a  "bit  of  blue  ribbon."  Whenever  the  subject  was 
broached  to  Colonel  Edwards  he  objected,  and  with  cause, 
as  he  knew  that  the  steel  tires  of  the  old-style  wagon 
would  soon  cut  through  the  skin  of  clay  that  covers  the 
sandbed  on  which  the  Cleveland  track  is  built.  It  ran  on 
in  this  way,  from  year  to  year,  the  enthusiasts  fanning  the 
flame  of  their  desire  by  a  few  skirmishes  late  in  the  fall, 
before  the  track  was  cut  up  for  the  winter.  With  1895 
came  the  desire  to  do  something  in  this  direction.     My 


134  MEMOIR. 

attention  was  first  called  to  it  on  Monday,  May  n,  by  the 
late  Harry  Stephens.  I  was  at  the  time  on  the  staff  of 
the  American  Sportsman.  On  that  morning,  while  on  his 
way  down  to  business,  he  called  at  the  office  and  intro- 
duced the  subject.  From  what  he  said  I  learned  that  it 
had  been  discussed  very  freely  the  preceding  day  at  the 
Roadside  Club,  and  before  he  left  we  decided  to  look  up 
W.  P.  Murray  and  talk  the  matter  over  with  Colonel  Ed- 
wards. Within  an  hour  the  three  of  us  called  on  Colonel 
Edwards  at  his  store  in  Water  Street.  The  subject  was 
introduced,  and  when  the  Colonel  was  convinced  that  the 
rubber  tired  wagon  with  small  wheels  would  not  tear  up 
the  track,  he  was  as  enthusiastic  over  the  project  as  those 
who  introduced  it.  With  the  Rubicon  crossed,  the  three 
of  us  took  a  street  car  for  the  Driving  Park  to  interview 
W.  B.  Fasig,  who  had  a  sale  on  for  the  following  week. 
The  idea  was  to  have  him  act  as  Secretary.  Fasig  was 
sitting  on  the  steps  of  his  office  when  the  car  stopped. 
He  was  advised  of  the  movement  and  fell  in  with  it,  but 
stated  that  he  was  situated  so  that  he  could  not  accept  the 
office.  This  was  a  damper,  but  when  Fasig  suggested 
Frank  Chamberlain,  the  Secretary  of  the  Roadside  Club, 
the  way  towards  perfecting  the  organization  was  made 
clear.  The  matter  was  canvassed  thoroughly  during  the 
next  few  days,  and  finally  a  call  was  issued  for  a  meeting, 
Saturday,  May  25,  at  the  Weddell  House.  The  meeting 
was  held  in  a  bedroom  near  the  top  of  the  stairs  on  the 
second  floor,  and  at  it  The  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  of 
Cleveland  was  organized.  The  officers  elected  were 
Colonel  William  Edwards,  Honorary  President;  C.  E. 
Grover,  President,  and  Frank  Chamberlain,  Secretary, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  an  impromptu  matinee 
the  following  Saturday,  June  1.     At  that  time  there  were 


the  gentlemen's  driving  club.  135 

but  two  pneumatic-tired  wagons  with  small  wheels  in 
Cleveland.  John  D.  Rockefeller  had  one,  but  the  axles 
were  so  low  that  it  was  not  of  much  use  for  fast  work,  and 
Harry  Devereux  had  an  ordinary  top  road  wagon  with  the 
axles  cut  and  U-shaped  forks,  in  which  the  little  wheels 
turned,  welded  to  them.  The  first  heat  in  a  race 
at  a  matinee  of  the  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  was  won  by" 
Harry  Stephens  with  the  Young  Jim  gelding  Jim  Wilkes. 
The  next  heat  went  to  M.  A.  Bradley's  mare,  Mattie  Bas- 
sett,  and  the  race  to  George  T.,  a  chestnut  gelding  by 
Elyria,  owned  by  C.  G.  Barkwell.  The  races  at  this  meet- 
ing and  the  following  one  were  at  half-mile  heats,  but 
from  that  time  on  they  were  at  a  mile,  and  in  a  short  time 
the  doings  of  Firefly,  Mattie  Bezant,  Peep  O'Day, 
Wyreka,  Tague  O'Ragan,  East  End,  Incense,  Doc 
Sperry,  Tom  Shannon,  etc.,  were  the.  talk  of  the  town, 
the  first  spark  of  enthusiasm  being  struck  on 
July  6,  when  O.  G.  Kent  wheeled  in  from  the 
road  behind  Incense  to  a  high-wheeled  wagon  and 
won  in  2:17,  2:16^.  This  was  a  remarkable  perform- 
ance, and  it  was  not  beaten  during  the  season  of  1895.  In 
the  pacing  division  Harvey  Goulder's  road  horse,  Tom 
Shannon,  fought  for  first  honors  with  Doc  Sperry  in 
hopples,  and  the  latter  won  with  a  mile  in  2:17^,  Tom 
Shannon's  fastest  mile  being  in  2:19.  With  the  begin- 
ning of  1896  the  hopples  were  barred  in  the  wagon  races, 
and  from  that  time  up  to  the  present  The  Gentlemen's 
Driving  Club  of  Cleveland  has  grown  in  strength  and 
popularity,  until  it  has  become  the  leading  amateur  organ- 
ization of  the  kind  in  the  world.  Its  signal  success  can 
be  attributed,  not  to  the  work  of  any  one  member  or  group 
of  members,  as  is  the  case  in  many  associations,  but  to 
the  harmony  that  has  prevailed  in  its  ranks,  and  the  con- 


136  MEMOIR. 

stant  development  of  that  sportsmanlike  spirit  among 
horse  owners  who  can  take  a  defeat  good-naturedly  and 
at  the  same  time  congratulate  the  winner. 

A  short  time  after  the  Club  was  organized,  it  was  de- 
cided to  purchase  two  championship  cups,  one  of  which 
was  to  be  awarded  each  year  to  the  owner  of  the  trotter 
making  the  fastest  time  during  the  season,  and  the  other 
to  the  owner  of  the  horse  pacing  the  fastest  mile.  Incense 
was  the  first  trotter,  and  Doc  Sperry  the  first  pacer,  to 
have  their  names  engraved  on  the  cups.  The  following  is 
what  appeared  on  the  cups  at  the  close  of  1902 : 

THE  CHAMPIONS. 

TROTTERS. 

1895 — Incense,    b    m,    by   Young  Jim;    O.    G. 

Kent 2:\6y2 

1896 — Eloise,  bl  m,  by  Kentucky  Prince;   W. 

B.  Fa^ig 2:16% 

1897 — Elloree,  ch  m,  by  Axtell;   C.  Morris. . .  .2:10 

1898— Temper,  ch  m,  by  Elyria;  W.  M.  Cum- 
mer   2:13^ 

1899 — Temper,  ch  m,  by  Elyria;  W.  M.  Cum- 
mer   2:og)4 

1900 — John   A.    McKerron,    b   s.    by   Nutwood 

Wilkes;  H.  K.  Devereux   2:09 

1901 — John    A.    McKerron,  b  s,    by  Nutwood 

Wilkes;  H.   K.   Devereux 2:06^ 

1902 — John   A.    McKerron,    b   s,    by   Nutwood 

Wilkes;  H.   K.   Devereux 2:06^ 


PACERS. 

1895— Doc  Sperry,  br  g,  by  Altamont;  W.  F. 

Dutton 2:17^ 

1896 — Prussia   Girl,   ch  m,    by    Russia.    W.   J. 

White    ^ 2:16^ 

1897 — Pine  wood,    b    s,     by    Artemas;    W.    B. 

White    ' 2:13^ 

1898— Ripper,    blk   s,    by  Texas  Jack;    H.    K. 

Devereux 2:16% 

1899 — Sunland  Belle,  b  m,  by  Bourbon  Wilkes; 

J.  H.  Outhwaite 2:07^ 

1900 — Ananias,  br  s,  by  Patron;  C.  F.  Emery. 2:06^ 
1901 — Nicol  B.,  br  s,  by  Alcalus;  J.  Sherwin.  .2:nX 
1902 — Tiger,  gr  g,  by  McEwen:  J.  Ray 2:07^ 


THE    CHALLENGE    TROPHY.  13 


In  1900  the  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  of  Boston, 
which  was  organized  the  preceding  year,  on  the  same  lines 
as  the  Cleveland  Club,  offered  a  $1,000  cup,  to  be  known 
as  the  Amateur  Drivers'  Challenge  Trophy,  and  which 
was  to  become  the  property  of  the  Club  winning  it  three 
times.  The  first  race  for  the  trophy  was  trotted  at  Boston, 
where  John  A.  McKerron,  one  of  the  Cleveland  Club's 
representatives,  was  returned  as  the  winner.  As  is  shown 
by  the  following  summaries,  the  same  horse  was  also  the 
winner  in  1901  and  1902,  when  the  cup  became  the  prop- 
ertv  of  The  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  of  Cleveland,  by 
which  it  was  presented  to  H.  K.  Devereux,  the  owner  of 
the  three-times  winner : 

Boston,  Mass.,  September  19.  1900. 

Amateur    Drivers'    Challenge    Trophy.     Free-for-all 

trotting. 

John  A.  McKerron,  b  s,  by  Nutwood  Wilkes 

(H.  K.  Devereux)    1     1 

Senator  L.,  b  g,  by  West  Cloud  (J.  Shepard) .     2     2 
Temper,  ch  m,  by  Elyria  (W.  M.  Cummer)..     3     3 
Miss  Whitney,  ch  m,  by  Edgemark  (H.  Rus- 
sell)  " 4     5 

Burlington   Boy,    ch   g,   by   Alcander    (H.   O. 

Aldrich)   6     4 

Nemoline,  blk  m,  by  Jersey  Wilkes  (Dr.  Car- 
michael)  5  dr 

Time — 2:10,  2:11. 

Cleveland,  Ohio,  September  4,  1901. 

Amateur    Drivers'    Challenge    Trophy.     Free-for-all 

trotting. 

John  A.   McKerron,  b  s,  by  Nutwood  Wilkes 

( Ff .  K.  Devereux)   1     1 

Temper,  ch  m,  by  Elvria  (W.  M.  Cummer)..     4     2 

Dr.  Book,  b  g,  by  McKinney  (C.  K.  G.  Bil- 
lings)  ..  .     2     4 

Tudor  Chimes,  b  g,  by  Chimes  (A.  E.  Perrin)     3     3 
Time— 2:12^,  2:11. 


138  MEMOIR. 

Cleveland,  Ohio,  September  5,  1902. 
Amateur    Drivers'    Challenge    Trophy. _  Free-for-all 

trotting. 

John  A.  McKerron,  b  s,   by  Nutwood  Wilkes 

(H.  K.  Devereux)   1     1 

Lord  Derby,  b  g,  by  Mambrino  King  (E.  E. 

Smathers) 3     2 

The  Monk,  b  g,  by  Chimes  (C.  K.  G.  Billings) .     2    3 
Time — 2:07^,  2:08. 

Five  of  the  fifteen  races  programmed  for  the  Cleveland 
Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1896  were  won  by  Ohio  horses, 
three  of  them  having  been  bred  in  the  state,  and  the  other 
two  owned  and  developed  in  Cleveland.  In  addition  to 
this  they  had  three  third  moneys  and  three  fourth 
moneys  placed  to  their  credit.  The  Forest  City  Farm 
won  a  first  and  a  fourth  with  the  Patron  mare  Helen  K., 
the  other  winners  being  Rifle,  who  was  only  a  head  in 
front  of  Franklin,  by  Gold  Leaf,  when  he  made  his  rec- 
ord of  2:11^4,  Derby  Princess,  Newcastle,  and  Dan  T. 
W.  B.  Fasig  won  a  third  and  a  fourth  with  [Marguerite, 
a  handsome  little  mare  that,  according  to  her  owner, 
"doesn't  ask  to  have  her  track  taken  around  with  her  to 
trot  on,  but  says:  'Come  on,  boys;  if  that  track  is  good 
enough  for  you  it  is  good  enough  for  me ;  let's  have  a 
race' ;"  while  W.  C.  Ong  was  awarded  a  third  with  Atlan- 
tis, and  both  Franklin  and  Rubenstein  saved  their  en- 
trance. A  heavy  track  on  the  opening  day  and  the  ab- 
sence of  a  free-for-all  trot  on  the  programme  made  a  cut 
in  the  rate  of  speed,  the  sixty  heats  contested  averaging 
2:13^2.  The  forty  heats  trotted  averaged  2:15^,  and 
the  twenty  paced,  2:09^4.  The  free-for-all  pace  was  the 
best  race  of  the  meeting,  and  proved  the  greatest  surprise 
when  Frank  Agan  defeated  Joe  Patchen  and  Robert  J.  in 
2:05,  2:04,  2:04^4.  The  finish  in  the  second  heat  was 
very  close,  Frank  Agan  winning  it  by  a  head  from  Joe 


1897    MEETING.  139 

Patchen.  In  the  third  heat  Robert  J.  chased  Frank  Agan 
to  the  three  quarters  in  1  132^4,  but  he  could  not  reach  on 
the  trip  to  the  wire.  Alonzo  McDonald  created  a  ripple  of 
excitement  when  he  stepped  out  in  front  with  the  four- 
year-old  filly,  Miss  Jennings,  and  won  the  2  125  pace,  giv- 
ing her  a  mark  of  2  :o8*4-  Joe  Rea  also  had  his  day  when 
he  won  two  races  with  the  Gambetta  Wilkes  mares,  Emma 
Offutt  and  Lottie  Loraine,  while  the  Fred  S.  Wilkes  geld- 
ing, Walter  S.,  won  two  races  during  the  week.  The 
other  winners  at  the  meeting  were  Corie  McGregor, 
Frank  Bogash,  Klamath  and  Elloree. 

Four  of  the  fifteen  races  programmed  by  the  Cleve- 
land Driving  Park  Company  for  its  Grand  Circuit  meet- 
ing in  1897,  were  won  by  the  Village  Farm  stable,  its  win- 
ners being  The  Abbot,  The  Monk,  Dare  Devil,  the  hand- 
somest fast  horse  that  ever  stepped  on  a  race  track,  and 
Passing  Bell.  In  addition  to  the  above  the  Village  Farm 
was  second  to  Oakland  Baron  in  the  2:15  class,  with 
Valence  second  to  Bumps  in  2:05^,  2:07,  2:06^,  with 
Heir-at-Law,  third  to  Satin  Slippers  in  the  2  125  pace  with 
Elsinore,  while  Athanio  was  unplaced  in  the  2:11  class, 
which  was  won  by  Grace  Hastings  after  Elloree  had 
scored  two  heats  and  Bouncer  one.  The  stable's  win- 
nings for  the  week  amounted  to  $5,875.  The  record  shows 
that  the  other  races  were  won  by  Frank  Bogash,  Bessie 
Leach,  Octavia,  Sally  Toler,  Senator  A.,  Rilma,  and  Star 
Pointer,  the  last  named  defeating  Joe  Patchen  and  Lottie 
Loraine  in  2:04,  2:05^,  2:04^.  The  speed  rate  of  the 
trotters  at  this  meeting  was  very  uniform,  the  thirty-three 
heats  averaging  2:123/2,  William  Penn's  two  heats  in 
2  :o8^4  being  the  fastest,  and  Dare  Devil's  second  heat  in 
2:15^4  the  slowest.  Seventeen  of  the  twenty-eight  heats 
paced  were  below  2  no,  while  the  average  was  2  108^4. 


140  MEMOIR. 

For  its  Grand  Circuit  meeting  in  1898,  Cleveland  pro- 
grammed eight  trotting  and  six  pacing  races,  the  purses 
offered  for  the  trotters  amounting  to  $17,500,  and  for  the 
pacers  $13,500.  Sixty-three  heats  were  required  to  clear 
the  card  and  dispose  of  two  specials  to  wagons,  the  aver- 
age time  for  them  being  2:11^2.  The  trotters  required 
thirty-five  heats  to  win  their  events  and  the  two  specials, 
the  time  averaging  2  \i2l/2.  Seventeen  of  the  twenty-eight 
heats  paced  were  below  2  :io,  the  average  time  for  the  en- 
tire number  being  2:09^.  The  showing  made  by  T. 
Keating's  stable  was  the  feature  of  the  week.  His  score 
was  five  starts  and  five  firsts,  his  winners  being  Search- 
light, Klatawa,  Anaconda  and  Dione,  three  pacers  and  a 
trotter.  Dione  won  the  2:24  trot  in  2:10^4,  2:12^, 
2  109^,  with  a  field  of  eleven  behind  her,  the  lot  including 
W.  B.  Fasig's  black  gelding  Alrich.  Anaconda  won  the 
2  105  pace  after  losing  two  heats  to  Frank  Bogash,  his  fast- 
est heat  being  finished  in  2  :04^J.  Klatawah,  a  three-year- 
old,  won  the  2  114  pace  in  2  107,  2  :09^J,  2:11^,  after  losing 
the  third  heat  to  Pentland  in  2:11^,  and  Searchlight  the 
2:08  pace  in  2:05^4,  2:05^,  2:06^,  and  2:10  pace  in 
2:04^4,  2:093/2,  2:09,  after  losing  a  heat  to  Lena  N.  in 
2:05^4.  In  this  race  Lena  N.  made  a  world's  record  for 
pacing  mares  and  Searchlight  a  world's  record  for  pacing 
colts.  The  Village  Farm  stable  also  made  a  very  strong 
showing.  It  won  with  The  Abbot,  Lady  of  the  Manor,  and 
Tommy  Britton  was  second  to  Directum  Kelly  in  the  2  123 
trot,  with  True  Chimes  third  to  Gayton  in  the  2:18  trot 
with  Battleton,  and  unplaced  with  Incarnate  in  the  2  125 
trot,  which  was  won  by  Angelina  after  Percy  and  Belle  J. 
each  had  a  heat.  The  race  won  by  Tommy  Britton  was  one 
of  the  uncertainties  that  add  a  charm  to  racing.  He  won 
the  first  heat  in  2  : iol/2.   In  the  second  heat  Cresceus  made 


1899   MEETING.  141 

a  break  going  away,  losing  four  lengths.  Geers  sailed  out 
in  front  to  the  half  in  1  :o$y2  and  three-quarters  in  1  138. 
Ketcham  made  a  drive  for  the  heat  and  stepped  Cresceus 
the  last  half  in  1  :03^4.  He  caught  Britton  when  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  wire,  made  a  break  and  Tommy  Britton 
was  given  the  heat  in  2  :09?4-  The  next  two  heats  went 
to  Cresceus  in  2  109^4,  2  iii^J,  and  Geers  had  stopped  driv- 
ing in  the  fifth  heat  when  Cresceus  made  a  double  break 
at  the  draw  gate.  Seeing  a  chance  Geers  roused  his  horse 
with  the  whip ;  he  was  too  tired  to  break,  and  won  in 
2:11^4.  The  other  winners  that  have  not  been  named 
were  Mattie  Patterson,  Split  Silk  and  Annie  Lee.  On  the 
last  day  of  the  meeting  J.  Curry  also  started  Kentucky 
Union  to  reduce  the  world's  trotting  record  of  2  112^2  to 
wagon  and  cut  it  to  2:10^4.  A  few  minutes  later  N.  W. 
Hubinger  appeared  with  Grace  Hastings  and  started  to 
beat  that  figure.  Going  away  rather  slow  for  such  a  task 
he  passed  the  half  in  1  :o6^4.  At  that  point  he  was  joined 
by  a  runner,  and  like  a  bird  on  the  wing,  Grace  Hastings 
flew  from  there  to  the  wire  in  1  102^4,  making  the  mile 
in  2  :ogy2. 

When  the  bell  rang  for  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  at 
Cleveland  in  1899,  there  were  new  men  at  the  helm.  Both 
Colonel  William  Edwards  and  George  W.  Short  had 
passed  from  the  scenes  that  had  known  them  so  many 
years.  Their  places  were  taken  by  H.  M.  Hanna  and  W. 
G.  Pollock,  while  H.  K.  Devereux  had  also  become  one  of 
the  working  forces  of  the  Association.  Twenty  events 
were  programmed  for  the  week,  the  pacers  for  the  first 
time  being  given  the  same  number  of  races  as  the  trotters. 
Seventy-six  heats  were  required  to  clear  the  card,  the 
average  time  for  them  being  a  fraction  over  2:11.  The 
time  for  the  series  was,  however,  very  irregular,  on  ac- 


142  MEMOIR. 

count  of  a  number  of  split  heat  races,  in  which  the  win- 
ners were  literally  raced  into  the  ground.  This  did  not, 
however,  prove  to  be  the  case  in  the  2:10  class,  in  which 
there  were  ten  starters,  Tommy  Britton  winning  the  first 
two  heats  in  2  :io,  2  :i2^,  Cresceus  the  third  in  2  :io,  and 
Elloree  the  next  three  in  2:08^,  her  record,  2:12^, 
2:12.  The  2  :04  pace  was  sandwiched  with  this  event,  and 
in  it  Searchlight  made  the  best  race  of  his  career.  Ana- 
conda started  favorite,  and  won  the  first  heat  in  2:04^. 
Searchlight  then  went  on  in  2:03^,  2:06%,  2:04.  Dur- 
ing the  week  Ed  Geers  won  his  engagement  with  The 
Queen,  Merriment  and  The  Abbot,  trotted  second  to 
Copeland  with  Tudor  Chimes,  was  unplaced  with  Battle- 
ton  in  the  2  :io  trot,  and  behind  the  money  with  Lady  of 
the  Manor  in  the  race  won  by  Miss  Logan.  The  other 
winners  at  the  meeting  were  Sphinx  S.,  Dorothea  S.,  Bob 
Fitzsimmons,  Fritz,  Hal  B.,  Hydrogen,  Surpol,  The  Maid, 
Dainty  Daffo,  Harry  O.  and  Owyhee. 

Cresceus,  Coney  and  Prince  Alert  were  the  record- 
breakers  at  the  Cleveland  meeting  in  iqoo.  On  the  first 
day  of  the  meeting  Cresceus  won  in  2  :oy}4,  2  :o6^4,  the 
time  made  being  the  two  fastest  consecutive  heats  trotted 
in  a  race  to  that  date,  the  trotting  race  record  of  the  track 
being  reduced  in  each  pi  the  miles.  On  the  following  day 
Coney,  after  flitting  about  on  the  turf  on  a  reputation 
established  by  T.  Keating's  faith  in  him,  made  good  by 
winning  in  2:02^,  2:043/2,  after  losing  a  heat  to  Prince 
Alert  in  2:04^.  In  the  fast  heat  Coney  started  in  sixth 
position  and  finished  with  a  little  to  spare.  His  time, 
2  10234,  was  a  new  track  record.  On  the  last  day  of  the 
meeting  Prince  Alert  made  his  second  appearance  in  the 
2  :04  class  with  Anaconda  and  Indiana.  In  the  first  heat 
Anaconda  made  a  break  going  away  and  Prince  Alert  won 


19OO   MEETING.  143 

in  2  :o8.  On  the  next  trip  the  pair  went  away  flying,  with 
Prince  Alert  in  front.  He  was  never  headed,  the  frac- 
tional time  for  the  mile  being  30,  1  :oi^,  1  131^,  2:02,  a 
new  track  record  for  pacers,  as  well  as  a  world's  record 
for  hoppled  pacers  and  a  world's  record  for  pacing  geld- 
ings in  a  race ;  being  a  reduction  of  half  a  second  in  the 
mark  made  by  Robert  J.  During-  this  meeting  the  horses 
driven  by  Geers  and  McHenry  were  on  edge.  The  lat- 
ter won  two  races  with  Bonnie  Direct,  and  one  each  with 
Coney  and  Gay  ton,  while  he  also  drove  Anaconda  in  the 
race  won  by  Prince  Alert.  Gayton's  race  was  the  best  of 
his  career,  and  one  of  the  best  ever  won  by  a  stallion  un- 
til Cresceus  began  to  cut  and  slash  all  kinds  of  trotting 
records.  Gayton,  Dare  Devil  and  Charlie  Herr  were  the 
contending  horses,  the  other  starters  being .  Precision, 
Monterey  and  Who  Is  It.  The  first  heat  was  won  by  Dare 
Devil  in  2  ioo,^,  while  Charlie  Herr  was  second.  On  the 
next  trip  Geers  laid  in  fourth  place  until  the  stretch  was 
reached.  McHenry  was  at  his  wheel  with  Gayton.  \\  nen 
Geers  made  a  move  McHenry  followed  suit.  The  pair 
soon  pulled  away  from  the  field,  and  when  the  wire  was 
reached  the  judges  said  Gayton  by  a  nose  in  2:08^4.  In 
the  third  heat  Dare  Devil  made  a  break  at  the  word  and 
lost  four  or  five  lengths.  He  also  took  a  couple  of  jumps 
at  the  half.  From  the  three-quarters  to  the  wire  the  pair 
raced  head  and  head,  the  lead  alternating-  with  each  stride. 
At  the  wire  Gayton's  head  showed  in  front,  the  time  being 
2  109.  In  addition  to  trotting  second  with  Dare  Devil  in 
this  event,  Geers  won  with  Lord  Derby  and  Onward  Sil- 
ver, was  second  to  Annie  Burns,  with  Lasso,  fourth  to  Sis- 
ter Alice  with  Memorial,  and  at  the  request  of  Renick 
took  a  mount  behind  Midway  prior  to  the  fourth  heat  and 
won  the  2  123  pace.     The  other  winners  at  this  meeting 


144  MEMOIR. 

were  White  Hose,  Cornelia  Belle,  Sidney  Pointer,  Helen 
Simmons,  Hetty  G.,  Dumont  W.,  Boralma,  Arch  W.  and 
Johnny  Agan.  Sixty-nine  heats  were  contested.  The 
average  time  for  the  meeting  was  a  shade  under  2:11^, 
the  thirty-five  heats  trotted  averaging  2:12^4,  and  the 
thirty-five  paced  2:09%. 

On  two  occasions  Maud  S.  trotted  to  a  world's  record 
over  the  Cleveland  track,  her  2  :o8$4,  which  still  stands 
as  the  fastest  mile  over  a  regulation  track  to  high  wheels, 
being  made  over  the  ''strip  of  yellow  dirt"  at  Glenville. 
Nancy  Hanks,  Alix  and  The  Abbot  made  their  records 
at  other  points,  although  all  of  them  started  there,  but  in 
1901  the  flight  of  time  was  once  more  checked  at  Glen- 
ville, when  Cresceus  stepped  inside  of  the  top  figure  by 
trotting  a  mile  in  2  :o2^4,  the  fractional  time  being  30,  31, 
30^4,  31.  This  record-breaking  mile  made  the  meeting 
memorable,  while  the  races,  although  short  and  snappy, 
failed  to  arouse  that  old-time  enthusiasm  which  stirs  the 
blood  of  a  devotee  of  harness  racing  when  the  heats  are 
split  in  fast  time.  Of  the  twenty  events  programmed,  Sis- 
ter Alice,  Martha  Marshall,  Metallas,  Audubon  Boy,  Dan 
Patch,  The  King,  Eleata,  Richard  A.,  Tom  P.,  Billy  H., 
Anaconda  and  Harold  H.  won  their  engagements  in 
straight  heats.  The  other  winners  were  Palm  Leaf,  Riley 
B.,  George,  Star  Pugh,  Charlie  Herr,  Charley  Mac, 
Coxey,  and  Onward  Silver.  Sixty-seven  heats  were  con- 
tested in  the  twenty  races,  the  average  time  being  a  small 
fraction  over  2  '.11%. 

In  1902  seventy-five  heats  were  required  to  dispose  of 
the  twenty  events  offered  for  a  five-day  meeting,  the  aver- 
age time  being  a  small  fraction  over  2:11.  The  thirty-four 
heats  trotted  averaged  2:11^4,  and  the  forty-one  paced 
2.09^4.     The  time  in  twenty-six  of  the  heats  paced  was 


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FASIG    GOES    TO    NEW    YORK.  145 

below  2  :io,  the  fastest  being  2  103 ^4,  by  Dan  Patch.  But 
six  of  the  thirty-four  heats  trotted  were  below  2:10.  An- 
zella  made  two  of  them  when  she  won  in  2  :o8^>,  2  :oSJ/2, 
while  The  Monk  trotted  in  2:07^,  Lord  Derby,  with 
George  Saunders  behind  him,  in  2  107^4,  and  Hesperus  in 
2:09^/2.  That  the  uniform  rate  was  up  to  the  standard 
established  in  the  past  was  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the 
ten  races  averaged  2:11^,  the  slowest  heat  of  the  week 
being  2:16,  by  Betsey  Tell.  As  a  high-class  meeting  the 
one  held  in  1902  compares  favorably  with  any  of  those 
which  preceded  it.  It  was  the  first  under  the  manage- 
ment of  George  J.  Dietrich,  who  succeeded  Siiney  W. 
Giles  when  he  retired  on  account  of  broken  health,  after 
being  in  harness  for  eight  years  at  Island  Park,  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  and  nine  at  Cleveland.  Scott  Hudson  made  a  rec- 
ord on  the  fourth  day  of  the  meeting  when  he  won  every 
race  on  the  programme  with  Alice  Russell,  Audubon  Boy, 
Chase  and  Twinkle.  During  the  meeting  he  also  won  a 
third  with  Tertimin,  a  fourth  with  Don  Riley,  and  was  * 
unplaced  with  Baron  Bell.  Ed.  Geers  also  had  a  good 
week,  his  stable  winning  with  Direct  Hal,  The  Monk  and 
Dandy  Chimes,  while  it  was  also  credited  with  two  seconds 
and  two  thirds.  Eight  of  the  twenty  races  on  the  pro- 
gramme were  won  in  straight  heats  by  Major  Delmar, 
Directum  Speir,  Dandy  Chimes,  Dan  Patch,  Anzella, 
Greenline,  Chase  and  Betsey  Tell,  while  the  events  in 
which  the  heats  were  split  went  to  Dan  R.,  Direct  Hal,  The 
Monk,  Wentworth,  Daphne  Dallas,  Alice  Russell,  Audu- 
bon Boy,  Twinkle,  The  Roman,  Martha  Marshall  and 
Sylviaone. 

In  1892,  when  William  Easton,  the  managing  director 
of  the  Tattersall  Companies  in  America,  decided  to  add  a 
trotting  department  to  the  business,  William  B.  Fasig  was 


146  MEMOIR. 

placed  in  charge  of  it.  The  American  branch  of  the  old 
English  sale  firm  absorbed  the  Emery  &  Fasig  business, 
taking  the  sale  building  at  Cleveland,  while  it  also  estab- 
lished sale  marts  at  Chicago,  where  R.  E.  Edmonson  was 
manager,  and  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  where  W.  R.  Brasfield 
looked  after  its  affairs.  This  change  transferred  Fasig 
from  Cleveland  to  New  York,  where  he  made  his  debut  as 
a  sale  manager  December  20,  21  and  22.  This  sale  was 
held  in  the  Cyclorama  building,  on  the  corner  of  Seventh 
Avenue  and  Fifty-fifth  Street,  on  the  evening  of  the  days 
selected  by  Peter  C.  Kellogg  &  Co.,  to  dispose  of  the  horses 
owned  by  the  Hobart  estate  and  a  few  other  consign- 
ments. At  this  date  Kellogg  &  Co.  controlled  the  big  rink 
on  Third  Avenue,  and  with  the  exception  of  Madison 
Square  Garden,  it  was  the  only  available  building  in  New 
York  in  which  a  horse  could  be  shown  at  speed  in  harness. 
The  stock  in  the  Tattersall  sale  was  not  of  a  character  to 
warrant  an  outlay  of  $1,000  a  day,  which  was  the  figure 
'asked  for  Madison  Square  Garden,  when  John  H.  Shults, 
H.  N.  Smith  and  A.  A.  Bonner  held  the  first  sale  in  that 
building,  January  12  and  13,  1892,  but  by  taking  advan- 
tage of  so  many  out  of  town  buyers  being  in  the  city, 
Fasig  sold  one  hundred  and  eight  head,  the  majority  of 
which  were  youngsters  on  the  end  of  a  halter,  for  $49,830. 
At  this  sale  J.  B.  Haggin  sold  fifty-nine  Rancho  Del  Paso 
yearlings  and  weanlings,  forty-two  of  which  were  by 
Albert  W.,  for  $30,435,  an  average  of  $515.84,  but  the  bal- 
ance of  the  consignments  did  not  bring  what  was  consid- 
ered a  fair  price  at  that  period,  when  a  man  usually  bought 
a  pedigree  and  learned  later  as  to  whether  he  had  a  horse 
or  not.  At  the  Kellogg  &  Co.  sale  the  same  week  the 
Hobart  estate  sold  sixty-eight  head  for  $207,860,  an  aver- 
age of  $3,056.76.     Stamboul,  with  a  cloud  on  his  record 


1 893  sales.  147 

of  2:07^,  sold  for  $41,000,  while  H.  S.  Pierce  paid 
$32,450  for  five  mares,  his  selections  and  prices  paid  being 
By-By,  $10,000;  Biscara,  $8,250;  Bon  Bon,  $7,500;  Alma 
Mater,  at  that  time  twenty  years  old,  $4,100,  and  Xola 
$2,600.  Nancy  Lee,  the  dam  of  Nancy  Hanks,  sold  for 
$7, 100,  Astrione  for  S5.300,  Silverone  for  S6,ooo,  My 
Trinket  for  $4,000,  Dainty  Bell  $4,200,  Almeta  $4,800, 
Alameda  $5,000,  and  the  saddest  part  of  it  is  that  none 
of  these  high-priced  ones'  foals  ever  came  up  to  expecta- 
tions, although  Bon  Bon  at  a  later  date  produced  Bonnie 
Direct,  2  105^4 . 

The  Tattersall  Companies  held  five  sales  of  trotting 
horses  under  William  B.  Fasig's  management  in  1893,  at 
which  they  sold  six  hundred  and  ninety-one  head  for 
$319,729.  Three  of  the  sales  were  held  in  Xew  York  and 
two  in  Cleveland.  The  year's  business  opened  in  New 
York  on  February  23,  with  Monbars  under  the  hammer. 
He  was  bid  off  at  $13,000  after  John  H.  Shults  intimated 
that  there  was  by  bidding  and  declined  to  raise  his  offer 
of  $12,000.  This  was  a  damper  on  the  sale,  and  after  it 
was  over,  so  many  other  horses  were  returned  by  devious 
ways  to  their  original  owners,  the  outlook  for  the  new 
management  was  not  very  encouraging.  Of  the  lots  put 
up  at  this  sale  to  test  the  market  Pixley  and  Beuzetta  were 
destined  to  become  the  most  prominent.  Pixley  was  run 
through  the  sale  for  $4,000.  At  the  time  she  had  a  record  of 
2  :i6,  and  was  considered  marked  for  life.  After  the  sale 
she  was  placed  in  Budd  Doble's  stable,  and  during  the  sea- 
son of  1893  proved  one  of  the  fastest  but  most  unfortunate 
mares  that  ever  took  the  word.  As  the  season  rolled  by 
the  daughter  of  Jay  Gould  became  known  as  "Second 
Money"  Pixley,  and  she  remained  true  to  the  record,  al- 
though many  contend  she  was  entitled  to  first  money  in  the 


148  MEMOIR. 

Columbian  free-for-all  at  Washington  Park,  Chicago,  dur- 
ing the  World's  Fair.  In  the  first  heat  of  that  race  Alix 
and  Pixley  finished  heads  apart  in  2:07^4.  Hulda  broke 
down  in  the  fourth  heat  and  Alix  won  the  money  after 
a  three  days'  siege,  Beuzetta,  at  the  time  an  unknown  two- 
year-old  filly,  as  wild-eyed  as  a  startled  fawn,  was  bid  off 
for  $500  and  shipped  back  to  Kentucky.  The  following 
year  she  won  the  Kentucky  Futurity  worth  $27,480,  and  in 
her  four-year-old  form  was  invincible  until  she  met  Azote 
at  Fleetwood  Park,  New  York.  At  that  time  she  had  a 
record  of  2:0634,  but  when  Azote  was  turned  loose  he 
stepped  away  from  her'  and  won  in  2  :ogy2,  2\o$y2,  2  107. 
Early  in  1893  the  financial  depression  stuck  a  pin  in  the 
boom  prices  which  were  being  paid  for  trotting  race  stock. 
Many  buyers  and  breeders  had  been  looking  for  it  for 
some  time  and  had  their  houses  in  order,  John  E.  Madden 
being  one  of  the  first  to  come  out  boldly  and  state  that  a 
pedigree  without  the  individual  was  worthless.  Opposed 
to  him  and  others,  who  read  the  signs  of  the  times  cor- 
rectly, was  an  army  of  buyers  and  breeders  who  con- 
tended that  so  long  as  a  standard  bred  horse  by  a  fashion- 
able sire  could  command  a  service  fee  of  from  $100  to 
$300,  and  double  that  figure  if  he  had  a  fast  record  and 
two  or  three  colts  in  the  2  130  list,  there  was  money  in  the 
business  even  with  the  prices  in  the  thousands.  And 
there  was,  so  long  as  the  trotter  was  a  plaything  and  there 
were  men  who  would  book  mares  at  top  figures,  but  they 
disappeared  as  soon  as  they  found  that  when  they  wanted 
a  little  money  they  could  not  realize  as  much  for  the  colt 
as  the  service  fee  of  its  sire,  to  say  nothine  of  the  keep 
and  the  interest  on  the  monev  invested  in  the  mare.  This 
fact,  backed  by  the  hard  times,  put  a  crimp  in  the  market, 
and  in  a  short  time  hundreds  wanted  to  sell,  and  while 


1893    SALES.  149 

there  were  always  buyers,  the  prices  were  so  low,  even  for 
stock  above  the  average,  that  many  expected  the  trotting 
horse  industry  to  peter  out.  As  men  wanted  money  more 
than  horses,  the  by  bidder  and  the  capper  had  to  step 
aside,  and  in  the  sales  that  followed  consignments  were 
scattered  in  every  direction.  In  the  end  this  proved  a 
blessing  in  disguise,  as  many  of  those  who  had  learned  to 
shun  the  sale  ring  came  back,  and  they  continued  to  buy 
when  the  market  improved. 

The  Cleveland  sales  of  the  Tattersall  Companies  in 
1893,  were  held  February  28  to  March  3,  and  May  15  to 
19.  During  the  two  weeks  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
horses  were  sold  for  $149,589.  Sydney  was  the  star  of  the 
first  sale.  He  brought  §27,000.  Had  he  been  sold  during 
the  boom  when  his  colts  were  breaking  records,  he  would 
have  brought  over  three  times  that  amount.  At  the  sale 
fourteen  others  brought  $1,000  or  over,  the  highest  priced 
lots  being  by  Sidney.  Frou  Frou  sold  for  $3,500,  Odd- 
fellow $2,000,  Sidmont  $2,550,  Fausta  $2,100,  Red  Sid 
$1,100,  and  San  Souci  $1,050.  At  the  May  sale  Bon- 
homme,  2:17^4,  Incense,  2:17%,  Instant,  2:14%,  and 
Eloise  2  130,  were  the  stars.  Alex  McLean  added  Bon- 
homrne  to  John  D.  Rockefeller's  stable  of  road  horses  at 
$5>75°-  O-  G.  Kent  gave  $5,300  for  Incense,  the  first 
champion  trotter  of  The  Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  of 
Cleveland.  Instant  sold  for  $4,200,  and  W.  B.  Fasig  paid 
$1,025  for  Eloise,  the  best  trotter  he  ever  owned.  She  went 
for  the  money  and  won  it.    That  is  the  test. 

After  a  two  days'  sale  in  New  York  in  June,  at  which 
a  consignment  from  the  Valensin  Farm  and  a  few  local 
horses  were  disposed  of,  Fasig  began  to  map  out  his  first 
sale  in  Madison  Square  Garden.  Selecting  the  first  week 
in  December,  he  started  off  with  what  he  called  "the  four 


150  MEMOIR. 

hundred,"  and  in  four  days  disposed  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  head  for  $88,755.  The  highest  priced  lots 
were  Director's  Flower  $5,100,  Delmarch  $4,100,  Repe- 
tition $3,900,  Charlie  C.  $3,500,  and  Captain  Walbridge 
$2,500. 

In  1894  the  Tattersall  Companies  held  three  sales  of 
trotters  in  New  York  and  two  in  Cleveland,  at  which  seven 
hundred  and  ninety-eight  horses  were  disposed  of  for 
$266,022,  an  average  of  $333.36.  The  Cleveland  sales 
were  held  February  28  to  March  3,  and  May  23  to  25. 
The  catalogue  for  the  winter  sale  presented  a  very  ordi- 
nary lot  of  stock,  and  the  prices  were  on  a  par  with  the 
offerings,  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  head  selling  for 
$30,030,  an  average  of  $160.58.  Percy  S.,  a  two-year-old 
bv  Red  Wilkes,  was  the  only  one  that  sold  for  four  figures, 
his  price  being  $1,000.  The  Robert  Rysdyk  horse  Guy, 
that  later  on  proved  a  useful  trotter,  passed  through  this 
sale  for  $620.  Courier,  2:15^4,  and  the  Clay  colt,  Isaac, 
were  the  features  of  the  May  sale.  The  former  went  back 
to  Kentucky  on  a  bid  of  $4,300,  while  Isaac  sold  for 
$2,200.  The  only  others  that  exceeded  the  $1,000  mark 
during  the  week  were  Maud  A.,  2  :igT/4,  and  Jim  Wilkes, 
2  :2i,  the  mare  selling  for  $1,600,  and  the  Young  Jim  geld- 
ing, that  afterward  became  a  well-known  matinee  trotter 
in  Cleveland,  for  $1,100.  All  of  the  New  York  sales  were 
held  in  Madison  Square  Garden,  the  first  one  being  an- 
nounced for  April  23  and  24.  For  it,  Murat,  by  Director, 
out  of  the  Volunteer  mare  Lady  Morrison,  2:27^,  was 
boomed  as  the  "fastest  horse  in  the  world  without  a  .rec- 
ord." Fasig's  magical  advertising  drew  all  eyes  to  him, 
and  with  a  trial  of  2  117  to  build  on,  Murat  sold  for  $5,250. 
He  is  still  "without  a  record."  At  this  sale  Myrtle  R., 
2  :i534>  Dv  Monaco,  sold  for  $3,500,  and  Clochette  brought 


i 895   SALES.  151 

$2,200.  The  balance  of  the  New  York  sales  in  1894  were 
held  in  November,  the  Kalamazoo  Farm  consignment  be- 
ing- the  attraction  at  the  first  one.  It  sold  sixty-four  head 
for  $44,065,  the  highest  priced  lots  being  Belle  Vara 
$4,100,  Ambassador  $3,000,  Dancourt  $2,100,  Vassar 
$2,200,  Nell,  dam  of  Belle  Vara,  Yassar,  etc.,  $2,000,  and 
Suisun,  now  a  brood  mare,  $1,800.  Matthew  Riley  also 
sold  seven  head  for  $6,685,  John  H.  Shults  paying  the  top 
figure  when  he  bid  $3,000  for  Kitty  Bayard,  2  \i2l/2.  This 
sab  and  the  one  that  followed  the  Horse  Show,  proved 
that  the  tide  was  beginning  to  turn,  as  $157,748  was  real- 
ized for  three  hundred  and  forty-five  head,  an  average  of 
$454.34.  At  the  second  November  sale  George  Ketcham 
disposed  of  eight  head  for  $10,100,  while  Monroe  Salis- 
bury sold  thirteen  from  his  racing  stable  for  $14,820,  and 
the  \Yedgewood  mare  Wistful,  2  :i 3^,  brought  $6,900. 
Of  the  Ketcham  lot  Miss  Lida,  2:10^4,  sold  for  $3,200, 
Nyanza,  2:12%,  for  $3,000,  and  Miss  Rachel,  2:20,  for 
$1,100.  Of  the  others  that  sold  for  over  Si, 000  the  re- 
port of  the  sale  shows  Lena  Holly  $2,500,  Uncle  Josh 
$2,250,  Edenia,  $1,750,  Celaya  $1,900,  and  Glen  Mary 
$2,100,  and  the  colt  trotter  Dick  Russell,  that  failed  to 
come  up  to  expectations,  $2,450. 

But  two  more  sales  of  trotters  wTere  held  by  the  Tatter- 
sall  Companies.  The  first  of  them  was  cried  at  Buffalo, 
January  16  to  18,  1895,  when  one  hundred  and  forty  head 
were  disposed  of  for  $24,260,  the  highest  priced  lot  in  the 
catalogue  being  the  pacing  filly  Whirligig,  2  :io.  She  sold 
for  $1,115.  Their  last  sale  was  in  Madison  Square  Garden, 
New  York,  February  27  to  March  1,  when  $51,500  was 
paid  for  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  head.  At  this  sale 
Pixley,  2:o8}4,  and  Monbars,  2:11^4,  again  appeared. 
Monbars    was    sold   for  $3,500,   and   Pixley   for   $3,100. 


152  MEMOIR. 

Charles  M.  Reed's  team  Evangeline  and  Lunette  were  also 
in  this  sale.     They  went  to  Cleveland  on  a  bid  of  $3,600. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  above  sale,  William  B.  Fasig 
issued. an  announcement  for  a  May  sale  at  Cleveland  un- 
der the  name  of  William  B.  Fasig  &  Co.,  the  other  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  being  Ed.  Hedges,  who  had  been  associated 
with  him  at  Tattersalls.  At  their  first  sale  three  hundred 
and  fifty  horses  were  sold  for  $92,055,  thirteen  of  the  lots 
running  over  the  $1,000  mark.  The  fast  colt,  Red  Bud, 
2:14^2,  was  the  star.  He  brought  $4,000,  while  $3,500 
was  paid  for  Token,  2  114^2,  and  $2,650  for  the  Electioneer 
mare,  Utility,  2:20^4.  In  November,  the  week  following 
the  Horse  Show,  the  new  firm  made  its  first  bow  in  New 
York  with  a  three-day  sale  in  Madison  Square  Garden,  at 
which  $102,085  was  realized  for  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  head,  an  average  of  $282.  The  Canadian  bred  mare 
Wanda,  2:1734,  proved  the  highest  priced  lot,  John  C. 
King,  of  Montreal,  buying  her  for  $2,700.  After  two  sea- 
sons he  brought  her  back  and  sold  her  for  $1,650.  Fred 
Gerken's  pair  of  Inter  City  Cup  winners,  Little  Sport  and 
Stoneridge,  sold  for  $2,900,  and  the  big  Wilkes  Boy 
mare,  Nellie  A.,  2:13,  that  was  one  of  the  fastest  colt 
trotters  of  her  day,  for  $2,025. 

In  1896,  the  firm  of  Fasig  &  Co.  sold  one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  horses  for  $409,689,  an  average 
of  $365.90.  It  held  six  sales,  four  of  them  being  in  New 
York  and  one  each  at  Cleveland  and  South  Elkhorn,  Ky. 
The  season  began  with  a  sale  in  New  York  in  February, 
when  the  Jewett  Farm  disposed  of  ninety-four  head  for 
$42,545,  Patchen  Wilkes,  the  first  lot  offered  in  the  con- 
signment, realizing  $10,025,  while  eleven  others  were  sold 
at  figures  between  $1,000  and  $2,100.  During  this  three- 
day  sale,  sixteen  others  sold  for  four  figures,  the  list  in- 


STAR    POINTER.  153 

eluding  Alice  Dorman,  $2,075;  Yenita  Wilkes,  $2,050; 
Baronet,  $2,500 ;  Phoebe  Wilkes,  $3,400,  and  John  R.  Gen- 
try, $7,600.  At  that  time,  John  R.  Gentry  had  a  record  of 
2  :0324.  William  Simpson  was  the  purchaser.  He  placed 
the  Beau  Brummell  of  the  pacing  world  in  the  Empire  City 
Farm  stable,  which  was  being  trained  by  W.  Andrews. 
During  the  season  that  followed,  Andrews  drove  Gentry 
to  a  record  of  2  :oo^  over  Rigby  Park,  Portland,  Ale. 
Many  thought  that  he  was  the  first  "two-minute  horse," 
so  Air.  Simpson  sent  him  to  the  auction  in  December.  As 
John  R.  Gentry  was  led  into  the  ring,  a  band,  which  was 
concealed  in  one  of  the  balconies,  played  "See  the  Con- 
quering Hero  Comes."  No  one  ever  heard  of  a  brass 
band  at  a  horse  sale.  It  was  one  of  Fasig's  original  ad- 
vertising novelties,  startling  and  at  the  same  time  pleasing. 
It  also  put  everyone  in  good  humor  for  the  surprise  that 
followed  when  John  R.  Gentry  was  sold  to  L.  Tewkesbury 
for  $19,900,  the  top  figure  for  a  pacer  at  auction. 

April  28  to  Alay  1,  Fasig  &  Co.  held  another  sale  in 
Aladison  Square  Garden,  at  which  three  hundred  and  six- 
teen head  were  sold  for  $91,234.  But  ten  of  the  horses 
disposed  of  reached  four  figures,  the  $3,000  paid  for  Ce- 
phas, 2:nl/2,  being  the  top  figure.  At  Cleveland,  three 
weeks  later,  the  firm  presented  the  champion  of  the  sale 
ring  in  Star  Pointer,  one  of  the  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine  lots  sold  for  $61,550.  At  that  time  the  half  brother 
of  Hal  Pointer  had  a  record  of  2  104^,  and  a  few  thought 
he  would  not  stand  training.  Ed  Geers  wanted  him,  but 
C.  J.  Hamlin  shook  his  head  when  $5,000  was  reached. 
Star  Pointer  went  to  Boston  on  a  bid  of  $5,500  and,  as 
Wallace  Pierce  expressed  it,  "Geers  lost  his  first  chance 
of  driving  a  horse  in  two  minutes."  Pointer  was  turned 
over  to  D.  McClary,  and,  after  a  series  of  mishaps,  he  cut 


154  MEMOIR. 

his  record  to  2:023/2.  In  March,  1897,  Star  Pointer  was 
again  led  into  the  sale  ring,  this  time  at  Madison  Square 
Garden,  New  York,  where  a  band  again  greeted  a  con- 
quering hero.  James  A.  Murphy,  of  Chicago,  bought 
him  for  $15,600  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Star  Point- 
er reduce  the  world's  harness  record  to  1  :59/4>  at  Read- 
ville,  Mass.,  August  28,  1897.  McClary  drove  him  and 
went  with  the  champion  when,  after  another  trip  to  the 
auctions  amid  the  inspiring  notes  of  "Hail  to  the  Chief," 
W.  J.  White,  of  Cleveland,  O.,  paid  $15,000  for  the  only 
two-minute  horse,  to  place  at  the  head  of  the  Two-Minute 
Stock  Farm.  In  September,  1896,  the  firm  of  Fasig  &  Co. 
made  its  first  and  only  trip  to  Kentucky.  It  disposed  of 
the  South  Elkhorn  Farm  stock.  According  to  the  incom- 
plete published  report,  but  thirty-six  head  were  sold.  Of 
that  number,  Onward,  then  twenty-one  years  old,  sold  for 
$7,250,  Acolyte  for  $5,100  and  Norval  for  $1,200.  No- 
vember 12,  Fasig  &  Co.  sold  in  Durland's  Riding  Acad- 
emy, New  York,  twelve  head  of  record  horses  owned  by 
the  estate  of  Major  Dickinson  for  $8,870,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing week  opened  its  regular  fall  sale  in  Madison 
Square  Garden,  at  which  three  hundred  head  realize'! 
$107,800,  an  average  of  $359.33.  It  was  at  this  sale  that 
John  R.  Gentry  touched  the  top  figure,  while  during  the 
week  George  Starr  paid  $4,500  for  the  colt  by  Director 
out  of  Winifred  by  William  L.,  which  has  as  yet  failed 
to  come  up  to  expectations,  and  Trevillian,  2:08^4,  went 
to  Europe  on  a  bid  of  $3,050. 

In  1897,  Fasig  &  Co.  held  four  sales  in  New  York  and 
two  in  Cleveland,  at  which  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
sixteen  horses  were  sold  for  $439,897,  an  average  of 
$272.21.  The  season  opened  in  January  with  a  four-day 
sale  in  Madison  Square  Garden  and  was  followed  by  sales 


1897   SALES.  155 

in  February  and  March  before  the  firm  moved  its  head- 
quarters to  Cleveland  for  the  May  sale,  to  which  Fasig 
always  requested  his  friends  to  bring  their  watches,  and 
buy  the  speed  offerings  on  what  they  could  show.  At  the 
January  sale,  three  hundred  and  one  head  were  disposed 
of  for  $74,510,  the  price  on  but  twelve  of  the  lots  running 
into  four  figures.  The  top  price  was  $2,300,  the  amount 
paid  for  the  pacer  Nelly  McCrory,  2:11^4,  while  Miss 
Nelson,  2:1134,  sold  for  $1,800,  and  Don  L.,  2:12^4,  for 
$1,650.  Star  Pointer  was  the  attraction  at  the  February 
sale,  when  two  hundred  and  seventy  head  realized  $73,490. 
At  this  sale,  Lilly  Young,  2\io]/2,  sold  for  $3,400;  Kate 
Angell  for  $1,800;  Keeler,  2:14^4,  for  $1,650,  and  Bert 
Oliver,  2:08^4,  f°r  $I>35o.  The  March  sale  was  held  in 
the  American  Horse  Exchange,  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  head  being  sold  there  on  three  days  for  $29,120. 
The  top  figure,  $4,500,  was  paid  for  Cephas,  2:11%.  The 
May  sale  in  Cleveland  in  1897  was  almost  a  failure,  the 
two  hundred  and  ninety-one  head  sold  averaging  but 
$157.09,  while  only  seven  of  that  number  brought  $1,000 
or  over.  Iago  sold  for  $3,000,  Derby  Lass  sold  for  $1,400, 
Candy  for  $1,000,  and  Bridal  Bells  for  $1,010,  and  Al- 
koran  for  $1,500.  In  November,  Fasig  &  Co.  had  another 
sale  in  Cleveland,  at  which  they  disposed  of  a  consignment 
of  California  and  a  few  local  horses,  sixty-three  head  sell- 
ing for  $19,045.  The  sale  ran  for  two  days,  the  highest 
priced  lots  being  Jasper  Ayers,  $1,750;  Franklin,  $1,310, 
and  Jaspine,  $1,000.  Two  weeks  were  claimed  for  the 
Horse  Show  sale  in  1897,  and  for  nine  days  the  auctioneers 
were  kept  busy.  During  that  time  they  knocked  down  five 
hundred  and  thirty- four  horses  for  $188,017,  an  average 
of  $352.09,  a  figure  which  proved  that  there  was  a  change 
in  the  market.     At  this  sale,  C.  W.  Williams  disposed  of 


156  MEMOIR. 

twenty  Allertons  for  $16,415,  an  average  of  $820.  James 
Butler  selected  the  flower  of  the  flock  when  he  purchased 
Gayton,  with  a  record  of  2:18^4,  for  $1,150.  He  raced 
him  for  two  seasons,  reduced  his  record  ten  seconds,  and 
sold  him  under  the  hammer  at  the  February  sale  in  1901 
for  $9,000  to  a  European  buyer.  At  this  sale,  Mr.  Butler 
also  sold  Royal  Victor,  2:08^4,  f°r  $3>6o°>  and  Cephas, 
2:1 1% ,  for  $2,000  or  $2,500  less  than  the  gelding  cost 
him  in  March.  The  $6,200  paid  for  Alice  Leyburn  was 
the  top  figure  at  this  sale,  the  report  of  which  shows  that 
Brignoli  Wilkes,  2  :i4>4,  was  bid  off  for  $5,000;  Que  Al- 
len, 2:09^,  for  $4,600;  Emily,  2:11,  for  $4,200;  Intact, 
2:19^4,  for  $3,500;  Hornelia  Wilkes,  2:16%,  for  $3,600; 
Athanio,  2:10,  for  $2,800;  Bowman,  2:17^,  for  $2,500, 
and  Valence,  2  :i2^,  for  $2,025. 

In  1898,  Fasig  &  Co.  held  five  sales,  three  of  them 
being  in  New  York,  one  at  Cleveland  and  one  at  Clover 
Dell  Farm,  Colmar,  Pa.  During  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-eight  horses  were  disposed  of  for 
$543,522,  an  average  of  $289.90.  At  the  first  sale  in  1898, 
the  Hermitage  Farm,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  sold  thirty-one 
head  for  $25,370,  an  average  of  $818,  its  highest  priced 
lots  being  Ponce  De  Leon,  $3,500 ;  Percy,  $3,800 ;  Admiral 
Symmes,  $1,800;  Preston,  the  disappointment  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Futurity,  $1,415;  Tosca,  $2,000;  Rosy  Morn, 
$1,300,  and  Belle  Archer,  $1,025.  Sphinx  at  $2,500  was 
the  best  bargain  at  this  sale  at  which  Planet,  2  104^4,  sold 
for  $6,000,  the  top  figure;  Chanty,  $1,550;  Dan  O., 
$2,000;  Ansel  Chief,  $1,200,  and  Gazette,  2:07^,  for 
$2,150.  In  March,  $59,742  was  paid  for  two  hundred  and 
seventy-one  head,  the  yearling  record  breaker  Adbell, 
2  123,  at  $3,000  being  the  highest  priced  lot.  He  was  pur- 
chased by  W.  E.  Spiers  for  the  Suburban  Farm,  and  when 


CHANGE    IN    THE    FIRM.  157 

the  stock  from  that  place  was  disposed  of  in  the  fall  of 

1 90 1,  Adbell  brought  $10,000,  his  get  having  in  the  inter- 
val shown  that  he  was  a  sire  of  early  and  extreme  speed. 
He  was  taken  to  Kentucky,  where  he  died,  October  8, 

1902.  In  April,  Fasig  &  Co.  sold  one  hundred  and  forty- 
six  head  at  Clover  Dell  Farm.  The  returns  show  that  Di- 
rector sold  for  $1,275;  Josephine  Young,  dam  of  Joe 
Patchen,  for  $2,000;  Mambrino  Maid,  2  11514,  for  $1,350; 
Ballona,  2:11^,  for  $1,250,  and  the  stake  winner  Mar- 
garet S.,  2:1214,  for  $1,025.  At  this  sale,  forty-seven 
yearlings  averaged  $289,  while  the  old  brood  mares,  many 
of  which  were  barren  or  doubtful  breeders,  cut  the  aver- 
age down  to  $329.93. 

The  amounts  paid  for  the  twelve  lots  in  the  Palo  Alto 
consignment  at  the  May  sale  in  Cleveland  recalled  the  days 
when  the  bids  for  Electioneer' s  get  soared  into  the  thou- 
sands at  the  Kellogg  sales  in  New  York.  The  big  Califor- 
nia establishment  was  then  selling  pedigrees  and  expecta- 
tions, while  Marvin  was  making  world's  records  with  the 
flower  of  the  flock.  At  this  sale  Frank  Covey  had  racing 
material,  four  of  the  lots  having  records.  The  twelve  head 
were  sold  for  $20,535,  an  average  of  $1,712.08,  the  highest 
priced  ones  being  Betonica,  $7,800;  Idolita,  $4,700;  Pa- 
sonte,  $2,080;  Hijita,  $1,900;  Peko,  $1,000,  and  Nordeau, 
$1,000.  These  were,  with  the  exception  of  Incense,  the 
only  horses  in  the  sale  that  sold  for  $1,000  or  over,  C.  F. 
Emery  paying  $1,250  for  the  daughter  of  Young  Jim. 

In  1898,  William  B.  Fasig  and  Ed.  S.  Hedges,  who 
had  been  in  bad  health  for  some  time,  parted,  Fasig  con- 
tinuing the  business  under  the  old  name,  while  Hedges 
entered  into  another  partnership,  which  was  continued 
with  varied  success  until  blindness  and  other  bodily  ills 
forced  him  to  retire.    He  died  January  20,  1903.     Fasig 


158  MEMOIR. 

held  two  sales  after  the  change.  At  the  first,  which  ran 
from  November  21  to  December  2,  seven  hundred  and 
fourteen  horses  were  sold  for  $258,265,  an  average  of 
$361.71.  It  was  at  this  sale  that  W.  J.  White  purchased 
Star  Pointer  for  $15,000,  and  Cresceus,  at  that  time  with 
a  record  of  2  109^4,  passed  under  the  hammer  for  $14,000. 
Bitter  Root  Farm  also  sold  twenty  head  for  $28,115,  an 
average  of  $1,405.75,  the  highest  priced  ones  in  the  con- 
signment being  Handspring,  $4,025 ;  Improvidence, 
$3,100,  and  Cuprum,  $2,500.  The  report  of  the  sale 
also  shows  that  Praytell,  2:11%,  sold  for  $5,100;  Lena  N., 
2  105%,  for  $3,000;  Jolly  Bird,  2  115^,  for  $3,700;  Courier 
Journal,  2  :o8^,  for  $3,150;  Split  Silk,  2  :ogJ/i,  for  $2,650; 
Klatawa,  2:05^2,  for  $7,000;  Wilton,  2:19^,  for  $4,100, 
and  the  counterfeit  Great  Barrington,  2:2334,  for  $2,100. 
The  last  sale  of  Fasig  &  Co.  was  held  February  15,  16  and 
17,  two  hundred  and  seventy  horses  being  disposed  of  on 
those  dates  for  $76,060.  The  Baron  Wilkes  horse  Reuben- 
stein,  2  :o5,  brought  $6,000,  the  highest  figure,  while  Frank 
Work  paid  $5,700  for  Pilot  Boy,  2:0934,  and  the  white 
mare,  Bessie  Bonehill,  2:05%,  sold  for  $1,000.  C.  W. 
Williams  sold  nineteen  Allertons  for  $7,455,  top  price 
figure  in  his  consignment  being  paid  for  Kaffa,  2:2734. 
She  brought  $1,775,  while  the  race  mare  Precision,  at  that 
time  with  a  mark  of  2:17,  sold  for  $1,010. 

The  Fasig-Tipton  Company  was  organized  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1899,  the  new'  member  being  Ed.  A.  Tipton.  Its 
first  announcement  appeared  in  the  advertising  columns 
of  the  turf  papers  the  second  week  in  March,  and  the  first 
sale  was  held  at  the  farm  of  E.  S.  Wells,  Glen-Moore,  X. 
J.,  April  5,  when  sixty-one  head  were  sold  for  $9,170. 
May  15  to  20  were  the  dates  selected  for  the  inaugural 
sale  of  the  company  at  Cleveland.    During  the  week,  two 


FASIG-TIPTON   CO.  159 

hundred  and  twenty-five  head  sold  for  $91,820,  thirty-two 
lots  from  Palo  Alto  realizing  $18,145.  The  reports  shows 
that  Advertiser  sold  for  $2,600;  Carrie  Caswell,  $3,000; 
Juntoria,  $2,100,  and  Eleata,  one  of  the  best  race  mares,  if 
not  the  best,  ever  bred  at  Menlo  Park,  for  $900.  The 
highest  price  at  this  sale,  $7,500,  was  paid  for  Askey, 
2:o8>4;  while  Who  Is  it,  2:12,  sold  for  $5,600;  Queen 
Alfred,  2:12^4,  for  $4,300;  the  champion  gelding  Azote, 
2:04%,  for  $2,900;  Red  Seal,  2:10^,  for  $1,800,  and 
Flora  Directum,  $1,550.  During  the  summer  months  the 
Fasig-Tipton  Company  had  a  sale  of  thoroughbred  year- 
lings in  Madison  Square  Garden,  sold  the  trotters  owned 
by  Charles  E.  Telford,  of  Rye,  N.  Y.,  disposed  of  a  con- 
signment from  the  Two-Minute  Stock  Farm  at  Cleveland 
during  the  Grand  Circuit  meeting,  and  made  another  sale 
for  E.  S.  Wells  at  Glen-Moore,  N.  J.,  October  31.  Six- 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  harness  horses  and  forty-three 
thoroughbreds  were  sold  at  the  first  fall  sale  of  the 
Fasig-Tipton  Company  in  New  York  for  $292,990.  The 
trotters  averaged  $432.13  and  the  thoroughbreds,  all  of 
which  came  from  Palo  Alto,  $445.90.  Tommy  Britton, 
2  :o8,  was  the  star.  He  went  to  Chicago  on  a  bid  of  $20,- 
000.  The  other  high  priced  lots  were  Elloree,  $4,750; 
Sunland  Belle,  $3,025 ;  Faustina,  $2,500;  what  Thomas 
Lawson  termed  the  "highly  polished  gold  brick ,"  Sagwa, 
$7,100;  Kentucky  Union,  $3,200;  Kellar,  $6,200;  Locha, 
$3,010;  Flora  McGregor,  the  dam  of  Elloree,  $3,000; 
Rubber,  $3,500;  Directly,  $3,000;  Louise  Mac,  $3,700; 
Extasy,  $3,500;  Axtello,  $3,600,  and  Grand  Simmons, 
$2,300 

In  1900,  the  Fasig-Tipton  Company  added  a  thorough- 
bred department  and  made  arrangements  with  William 
Easton,  who  had  been  conducting  sales  as  The  Easton 


160  MEMOIR. 

Company,  to  do  the  selling  in  connection  with  George 
Bain.  During  the  season  this  department  held  twenty- 
four  sales,  at  which  it  disposed  of  six  hundred  and  thirty 
thoroughbreds  for  $400,837,  an  average  of  $639.41. 
This  department  proved  much  more  profitable  than  the 
harness  racing  field  in  which  the  firm  of  Fasig  &  Co. 
made  its  reputation,  as  during  the  same  period  the  com- 
pany held  six  sales  of  trotters  and  pacers  at  which  one 
thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty-four  lots  were  disposed 
of  for  $654,495,  an  average  of  $418.47.  In  other  words, 
during  the  year  1900,  the  company  sold  two  thousand 
three  hundred  horses  for  $1,114,170,  at  an  average  of 
$484.42. 

The  first  sale  of  harness  horses  in  1900  was  held  in 
Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York,  February  13  to  17, 
three  hundred  and  ninety-three  head  being  auctioned  for 
$139,460.  Praytell,  2:09^,  one  of  the  lots  in  the  Robert 
Bonner  Farm  consignment,  brought  the  highest  figure, 
$6,100,  his  stable  companions,  Maud  C,  2:io34>  sold  for 
$2,900;  Sunol,  2:o8j4,  for  $4,000;  Worthier,  $3,500; 
Alary  Tudor,  $2,125;  Elfrida,  $1,600;  Don  L.,  $1,000; 
Prince  Ansel,  $1,025,  and  Harold  S.,  $1,150.  Before  this 
consignment  was  offered,  Maud  S.,  2:o8^£,  then  in  her 
twenty-sixth  year,  was  led  into  the  sale  ring,  and,  as  the 
crowd  rose  to  greet  the  ex-queen  of  the  turf,  the  band 
played  "Auld  Lang  Syne."  The  peerless  daughter  of 
Harold,  that  had  never  failed  when  called  on  for  a  cham- 
pionship performance,  showed  that  the  hand  of  time  had 
touched  her  with  the  passing  years.  A  few  weeks  later 
she  died  at  Shultshurst  Farm,  Portchester,  N.  Y.  The 
hoppled  champion,  Prince  Alert,  was  disposed  of  at  this 
sale  for  $4,600;  Baylight,  a  speedway  star,  for  $1,500; 
Alice  Dorman  for  $1,150,  Queen  Sphinx  for  $1,900,  and 


THE    ABBOT   SOLD    FOR   $26,500.  161 

Carlvle  Carne,  2:11^,  the  white  king  of  the  speedway, 
for  $1,325. 

After  the  death  of  Charles  F.  Bates,  the  Fasig-Tipton 
Company  was  requested  to  sell  his  stock,  and  on  May  20 
and  21  it  disposed  of  sixty  head  selected  by  what  Fasig 
termed  "America's  Greatest  Horse  Exhibitor,"  for 
$37,255.  The  report  of  the  sale  shows  that  Coxey  and 
Brown  Donna,  both  of  which  were  trotting  bred,  sold  for 
$3,250,  Whirl  of  the  Town  and  Sporting  Life  for  $2,500, 
the  Only  One  and  the  Conqueror  for  $2,250,  and  the 
Brown  Wilkes  gelding  The  Only  Way  for  $2,200.  At  the 
May  sale  in  Cleveland,  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  lots 
were  sold  for  $107,925,  the  pick  of  the  bunch,  according 
to  the  bids,  being  Princess  Derby  at  $4,100;  Sally  Hook, 
$3,900;  Sister  Alice,  $2,650,  and  Gusurro,  a  two-year-old 
from  Palo  Alto,  $2,000,  while  Tom  Xolan,  2:i61/4,  sold 
for  $1,500;  Arch  W.,  2:i6j4,  for  $1,025;  Lily  Young, 
2\\oY\,  for  $1,350,  while  Monterey,  2:0934,  was  run 
through  for  $2,000  and  shipped  back  to  California.  Dur- 
ing the  Cleveland  Grand  Circuit  meeting,  Arch  W.  was 
one  of  the  forty-two  head  sold  for  $12,570,  his  price  on 
this  occasion  being  $2,050,  while  the  big  gelding  Tacomis, 
2  '.14%,  sold  for  $1,000.  After  selling  sixty  head  for  E.  S. 
Wells  at  Glenmoore,  N.  J.,  October  17,  for  $8,785,  the 
Fasig-Tipton  Company  closed  the  season  with  an  eight- 
day  sale,  November  26  to  December  4,  at  which  The  Ab- 
bot, the  reigning  king  of  the  turf,  with  a  record  of  2  103^4, 
was  sold  for  $26,500;  Axtell,  2:12,  for  $14,700,  his  pur- 
chaser being  one  of  the  members  of  the  syndicate  that  paid 
$105,000  for  him  the  evening  he  cut  the  three-year-old 
record  of  the  world  to  2:12.  At  this  sale  seven  hundred 
and  fifteen  horses  were  sold  for  $348,500,  an  average  of 
$487.41,  the  highest  figures  being  paid  for  the  Village 


162  MEMOIR. 

Farm  consignment  of  forty-eight  head.  It  sold  for 
$59,610,  an  average  of  $1,242.  Praytell  was  back  in  the 
auction  ring,  and  on  this  occasion  sold  for  $4,000,  while 
Sally  Hook,  after  a  season's  campaign  in  which  she  made 
record  of  2  109  *4,  but  failed  to  race  successfully,  sold  for 
$1,100.  The  other  high  priced  lots  were  Lady  Thisbe, 
$4,100 ;  Erirange,  $5,4°o ;  Priola,  $3,350 ;  Lessadil,  $2,950 ; 
Lamp  Girl,  $3,000;  Carolita,  $3,550;  Stranger,  $2,050; 
Contralto,  $6,500;  Neeretta,  $3,200;  Major  Greer,  $4,500; 
Moth  Miller,  $2,400;  Greenbrino,  $5,100;  Alice  Mapes, 
$4,000;  Be  Sure,  $2,200;  Onward  Silver,  $3,700;  Heir-at- 
Law,  $2,550;  Rex  Americus,  $3,550;  Dan  Q.,  $1,500; 
Tudor  Chimes,  $1,350;  The  Monk,  $1,025,  and  Derby 
Princess,  $1,025. 

The  thoroughbred  department  of  the  Fasig-Tipton 
Company  opened  the  1900  season  with  the  sale  of  W.  H. 
Clark's  racing  stable  at  Morris  Park,  May  11,  thirty  head 
being  disposed  of  for  $38,025.  Banastar,  the  Brooklyn 
Handicap  winner,  brought  $11,000,  while  Musketeer  sold 
for  $3,000;  Seminole,  $3,000;  Mayor  Gilroy,  $3,200,  and 
Lucky  Bird,  $2,600.  On  the  following  day  twenty-two 
head  were  sold  for  W.  C.  Whitney  and  others,  the  amount 
realized  being  $10,180.  The  yearling  sales  began  May  24 
and  25  with  the  Rancho  Del  Paso  and  Elmendorf  young- 
sters. The  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  head  sent  on  to 
Xew  York  realized  $75,725,  an  average  of  $601.  The 
highest  prices  were  paid  for  the  colts  by  Goldfinch,  Fleu- 
rette's  selling  for  $5,000,  Lucania's  for  $3,600,  and  the  one 
out  of  Queen  Bess  for  $2,500.  On  June  13,  B.  G.  Thomas 
sold  twelve  Dixiana  yearlings  for  $26,200.  In  this  draft  the 
colt  by  Hanover-Mamie  Himyar  sold  for  $10,000  and  one 
by  Dr.  McBride-Quesal  for  $7,500.  None  of  the  year- 
lings from  the  Boone  Creek,  Melbourne,  Silver  Brook, 


MILLIONS    FOR    HORSES.  163 

Maplehurst,  Sunny  Slope,  Fairview  Studs  brought  as  high 
figures  as  the  Dixiana  bunch,  still  the  Maplehurst  Stud  re- 
ceived $3,000  for  Wild  Oats  by  Requital-Spinaway,  half 
brother  to  Strideaway,  Spinalong,  Lazzarone  and  Hand- 
spin,  and  $2,525  for  a  colt  Dy  Requital-Renia  Victoria.  In 
addition  to  the  above  the  company  sold  the  Nursery  year- 
lings, seventeen  head,  for  $3,225 ;  A.  B.  Spreckles'  year- 
lings, twenty-five  head,  for  $7,735 ;  Hurricana  yearlings, 
eleven  head,  for  $1,925;  F.  R.  T.  Hitchcock's  racing  sta- 
bles, nineteen  head,  for  $13,325;  Phil  Dwyer's  racing  sta- 
bles, twenty-three  head,  for  $16,987;  Marcus  Daly's  rac- 
ing stables,  twenty-four  head,  for  $21,875-;  L.  O.  Apple- 
by's Silver  Brook  Stud  of  forty-two  head  for  $64,700,  one 
of  the  horses  consigned  being  imp.  Knight  of  the  Thistle. 
He  sold  for  $30,000,  Charles  Reed,  the  man  who  dazed  the 
ring  with  a  $100,000  bid  when  he  bought  St.  Blaise,  being 
the  purchaser. 

In  190 1,  the  returns  from  the  thoroughbred  depart- 
ments were,  on  account  of  the  clearance  sales  of  Marcus 
Daly's  stock,  more  than  double  the  amount  realized  at  the 
firm's  four  sales  of  harness  performers.  The  published 
reports  show  that  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty- 
six  thoroughbreds  were  sold  for  $1,746,145,  an  average 
of  $1,207.56,  while  the  company  also  sold  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy  trotters  and  pacers  for  $814,- 
445,  an  average  of  $424.73,  making  the  year's  business 
amount  to  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixteen  horses 
sold  for  $2,560,590,  an  average  of  %jj2.i6.  The  sale  of 
Marcus  Daly's  thoroughbred  stock,  when  the  number  dis- 
posed of  is  considered,  is  the  best  on  record  in  America. 
Two  hundred  and  eight  head,  including  stallions,  brood 
mares,  yearlings,  two-year-olds  and  three-year-olds  were 
disposed  of  at  these  sales  for  $661,175,  an  average  of 


164  MEMOIR. 

$2,361.33.  At  the  first  sale,  January  30  to  February  1, 
one  hundred  brood  mares  sold  for  $200,430,  seven  stal- 
lions for  $84,100,  eleven  three-year-olds  for  $37,750, 
sixty-six  two-year-olds  for  $78,300,  and  a  yearling  filly 
by  Persimmons  for  $6,100.  W.  C.  Whitney  paid  $60,000 
for  Hamburg,  while  his  stable  companion,  Tammany,  sold 
for  $4,000;  imp.  Ogden,  $4,200,  and  imp.  Isidor,  $6,000. 
Of  the  brood  mares,  imp.  Ayrshire  Rose  sold  for  $3,800 ; 
imp.  Berriedale,  $4,000 ;  imp.  Boise,  $4,000 ;  imp.  Cocker- 
nony,  $6,500 ;  imp.  Dartaway,  $4,600 ;  imp.  Drusilla, 
$3,100;  imp.  Goutte  d'Or,  $4,500;  imp.  Gwendolyn, 
$4,000;  imp.  Mrs.  Delancy,  $8,200;  Pastorella,  $10,000; 
imp.  Rose  of  Hampton,  $8,000;  Sadie,  $4,200;  imp.  Sis- 
trum,  $4,000;  Starlight,  $3,000;  imp.  St.  Eudora,  $5,000; 
imp.  St.  Mildred,  $5,600,  and  imp.  The  Task,  $4,600. 
Frankfort,  a  three-year-old  brother  to  Hamburg,  sold  for 
$10,100;  Emporium,  a  three-year-old  colt  by  The  Pepper, 
out  of  Cockernony,  for  $8,000;  Choate,  a  two-year-old 
colt  by  Meddler,  for  $9,000,  and  imp.  Cathaire  Mor,  a 
two-year-old  colt  by  Kendal,  for  $6,500.  The  fifty-five 
Daly  yearlings  were  sold  May  24  for  $51,525,  the  highest 
priced  one  in  the  lot  being  Moondyne,  a  colt  by  Hamburg- 
Mint  Cake.  He  sold  for  $10,000.  In  this  consignment 
twenty-seven  fillies  sold  for  $22,475,  and  twenty-eight 
colts  for  $29,050.  The  third  sale  of  Daly's  thoroughbreds 
was  held  October  1,  the  forty-one  head  catalogued  being 
from  his  English  breeding  establishment.  They  brought 
$205,100,  an  average  of  $5,002.39.  At  this  sale  J.  R. 
Keene  paid  $18,500  for  the  twelve-year-old  mare  imp. 
Field  Azure,  by  Bend  'Or,  and  August  Belmont  gave 
$13,500  for  a  weanling  colt  out  of  her  by  St.  Simon.  J.  R. 
Keene  also  paid  $11,000  for  Lady  Reel,  the  dam  of  Ham- 
burg, her  yearling  filly  by  St.  Simon  going  to  W.  C.  Whit- 


THOROUGHBRED    SALES.  165 

ney  for  $16,000,  and  her  weanling,  by  the  same  sire,  to 
August  Belmont  for  $25,000.  August  Belmont  also  paid 
$17,000  for  the  ten-year-old  mare  imp.  Lucy  Cross,  by 
St.  Simon,  and  $4,600  for  a  yearling  filly  by  St.  Frusquin- 
Semper  Fidele.  W.  C.  Whitney  paid  $6,200  for  Semper 
Fidele,  whose  weanling  filly  by  St.  Frusquin  was  pur- 
chased by  J.  R.  Keene  for  $5,500. 

The  curtain  was  rung  down  on  Marcus  Daly's  breed- 
ing ventures  at  home  and  abroad  at  the  November  sale, 
when  eighty-nine  head  of  trotting  bred  stock  was  sold  for 
$67,580,  making  a  grand  total  of  $728,755  realized  by  the 
Marcus  Daly  estate  for  three  hundred  and  sixty-nine 
horses  during  1901.  Forty-two  of  the  horses  disposed  of 
at  the  last  sale  sold  for  over  $1,000,  the  lot  including  Bow 
Bells,  $5,100;  Ponce  de  Leon,  $6,500;  Prodigal,  $4,100; 
Extasy,  $3,100;  Impetuous,  $4,200;  Lady  Wilton,  82,700; 
Prelacy,  $3,100;  Rosy  Morn,  $2,700;  Prelatess,  $4,600; 
Impractical,  $4,000;  Ettie  Baron,  $2,400;  Silk  Weaver, 
$2,050;  and  the  yearling,  Miss  Previous,  $10,300. 

Of  the  yearling  sales  in  190 1,  the  Rancho  del  Paso  and 
the  Elmendorf  proved  the  most  important.  At  the  first  of 
these,  which  was  held  June  14,  15  and  17,  two  hundred 
and  one  were  sold  for  $234,025,  an  average  of  $1,164.30. 
The  top  price,  $13,000,  was  paid  for  a  colt  by  St.  Gatien- 
Turmoil,  while  a  filly  by  St.  Gatien-Fleurette  sold  for 
$11,500,  a  colt  by  Golden  Garter-Memento  for  $10,000, 
and  a  colt  by  Goldfinch-imp.  Silence  for  $6,000.  The 
thirty-four  head  in  the  Elmendorf  lot  sold  for  $39,950, 
the  highest  price  being  $3,200,  which  was  paid  for  a  colt 
by  imp.  Candlemas-Miss  Maud.  At  the  yearling  sales, 
B.  G.  Thomas  sold  fourteen  for  $22,025  ;  Runnymede,  ten 
for  $3,300;  Raceland,  nine  for  $21,425;  Melbourne,  twen- 
ty-three for  $21,525;  Beaumont,  twenty-four  for  $19,600; 
Belle  Meade,  thirty-two  head  for  $25,050;  Silver  Brook, 


166  MEMOIR. 

thirteen  for  $14,350;  Maplehurst,  twenty  for  $15,380; 
Holmdel,  sixteen  for  $34,725 ;  Rancocas,  forty  for 
$28,250;  the  list  of  highest  priced  youngsters,  including 
a  colt  by  Dr.  McBride-Ouesal,  $7,400 ;  a  colt  by  Hindoo- 
Cherry  Blossom,  $6,500;  a  colt  by  Iroquois-Wanda, 
$6,500;  a  colt  by  His  Highness-Carrie  C,  $10,300;  a  colt 
by  Knight  of  Ellerslie-Flash  in  the  Pan,  $4,800,  and  a  filly 
by  Henry  of  Navarre-Sallie  McClelland,  $6,000.  At  the 
sales  of  horses  in  training  and  other  stock,  the  Fasig-Tip- 
ton  Company  sold  the  three-year-old  colt  Watercolor,  by 
imp.  Watercress,  for  $23,000,  and  Watercure,  a  three- 
year-old  gelding  by  the  same  sire,  for  $11,000,  when  the 
racing  stable  of  Charles  Littlefield,  Jr.,  was  offered,  thirty- 
nine  lots  being  disposed  of  for  $81,750;  Prince  of  Mel- 
bourne for  $20,500,  when  Frank  Beard's  racing  stable  was 
scattered;  Smart  Set,  by  Halma,  for  $10,500;  Blues  for 
$5,000,  imp.  Royal  Flush  for  $4,500,  imp.  Saville,  by 
Hampton,  for  $10,000,  and  the  black  gelding,  Paul  Clif- 
ford, for  $5,000. 

The  first  of  the  four  sales  of  harness  horses  in  1901 
was  held  February  13  to  16,  three  hundred  and  sixty-four 
head  of  stock  passing  under  the  hammer  in  the  four  days 
for  $125,320.  East  View  Farm  sold  seventeen  for  $26,- 
675,  an  average  of  $1,569.53  ;  the  highest  priced  lots  being 
Gayton,  $9,000,  the  top  figure  of  the  sale ;  Anaconda, 
$6,500;  Coney,  $4,100;  Baron  March,  $2,000,  and  Miss 
Beatrice,  $1,000.  Mascot,  whose  2:04  was  the  world's 
record  when  made,  sold  for  $1,000,  and  Dariel  for  $2,100, 
while  Philip  E.  brought  $2,525;  Highland  Baron,  $1,600; 
Baron  Review,  $1,600;  Dollade  Wilkes,  $1,525,  and  Our 
Jack,  $1,600.  At  the  March  sale  the  Penn  Valley  Stud 
sold  thirty-one  head  for  $33,240,  an  average  of  $1,072.22, 
the  highest  priced  ones  being  the  Directum  filly  Emma 
Winters,  $8,000;    Bay    Star,    $6,100,    and    Ed  Winters, 


SUBURBAN    FARM   SALE.  167 

$2,100.  The  Oregon  bred  pacer  Chehalis,  2\0Jt1/2, 
changed  owners  at  this  sale  for  $2,200,  and  the  Dexter 
Prince  mare  Hijita  for  $3,700.  The  three-.year-old  geld- 
ing Rowellan  proved  the  best  racing  prospect  in  the  Cleve- 
land sale,  which  was  held  May  21  to  25.  James  Golden 
bid  him  off  at  $1,075,  and  after  putting  him  in  racing  trim, 
started  him  at  Brighton  Beach,  where  he  won  a  heat  in 
2:15^4  and  second  money  in  the  race  that  Carrie  Bel 
placed  to  her  credit.  At  Readville,  the  following  week,  he 
divided-  third  and  fourth  money  with  Hawthorne  in  the 
race  won  by  Nancy  Hanks'  colt,  Admiral  Dewey;  while 
at  Hartford  he  defeated  both  Hawthorne  and  Carrie  Bel 
in  2:1654,  2:i6y2,  2:17,  in  the  $5,000  Horse  Review 
Stake.  Rowellan's  gross  winnings  in  the  three  races 
amounted  to  $3,150.  The  only  other  high  priced  lots  in 
the  Cleveland  sale  were  Eula  Mac,  $2,700 ;  Delma,  $2,150 ; 
Aylwin,  $2,100;  YVynema,  $1,050;  Pauline  G.,  $1,975; 
Boodler,  $1,100;  Rubber,  $1,500;  Lady  Althea,  $1,000, 
and  Dorothea  S.,  $1,700. 

The  sale,  November  25  to  December  4,  was  referred 
to  above  in  connection  with  the  disposal  of  the  Marcus 
Daly  stock.  The  other  important  consignment  in  it  came 
from  the  Suburban  Farm,  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.  That  estab- 
lishment sold  one  hundred  and  twenty  head  for  $92,585, 
an  average  of  $771.54,  its  best  figures  being  obtained  for 
Directum,  $12,100;  Adbell,  $10,000;  Directum  Spier, 
$6,000;  Major  Delmar,  $2,900,  who  proved  one  of  the 
best  horses  in  training  in  1902 ;  Dainty  Daffo,  $2,525 ;  the 
yearling  Ethel's  Pride,  by  Directum-Ethelwyn,  $2,500; 
Copeland,  $1,850;  Miss  McGregor,  $1,650;  Nellie  A., 
$1,550;  the  yearling  Janey's  Gem,  by  Directum-Janey  T., 
$1,300,  and  the  eight-year-old  Dictator  mare,  Tintoret, 
$1,800.  Riverside  Farm,  Berlin,  Wis.,  sold  the  Futurity 
winner  Peter  Stirling,  2:11^,  for  $9,200;  his  half  broth- 


1G8  MEMOIR. 

er,  Black  Robert,  2:13^,  for  $2,200,  and  Plumline, 
2:1234,  for  $1,525;  and  the  Village  Farm  disposed  of 
Lord  Derby  for  $10,500;  King  Charles,  $2,050,  and 
Shadow  Chimes  for  $5,100.  The  M.  &  M.  winner  Lady 
Geraldine,  was  sold  for  $3,000 ;  Bi  Flora,  $6,000 ;  Maggie 
Mills,  $3,000;  Sally  Simpson,  $2,150;  Valentine,  $2,500; 
Simland  Belle,  $1,400;  the  pacer  Nathan  Straus,  $1,700; 
Guy  Onward,  $1,500;  King  Chimes,  $1,700,  and  Wilask, 
$1,400.  This  sale  proved  that  the  market  for  trotting- 
bred  stock  was  stronger  than  at  any  time  since  the  boom 
days  of  the  early  nineties.  On  the  nine  days,  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-two  horses  were  sold  for  $495,078,  an  average 

of  $536.95- 

The  Fasig-Tipton  Company  held    one    sale    in  1902 

prior  to  the  death  of  William  B.  Fasig,  the  dates  selected 
being  January  27  to  31.  A  consignment  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  head  from  the  Penn  Valley  Farm  was  the 
feature,  the  bunch  realizing  $80,720.  Oakland  Baron, 
2  109^4,  sold  for  $15,700,  and  was  a  bargain  at  that  figure, 
while  Director  Joe,  a  black  horse  by  Director,  out  of  the 
dam  of  Joe  Patchen,  brought  $2,500,  and  To  Arms,  $2,300. 
Of  the  other  lots  in  the  sale,  The  King  sold  for  $1,000; 
Axtello,  $1,125;  Who  Is  It,  $1,850;  Kingmond,  $3,000; 
Democracy,  the  half-mile  track  champion,  $2,100;  Will 
Leyburn,  $2,300;  Advertiser,  $5,300;  Helen  Fife,  $1,800; 
Carmine,  $2,400;  Billy  Andrews,  $2,000,  and  Wilque, 
$1,500.  Five  hundred  and  eighty-seven  head  were  sold 
for  $220,075  at  this  sale>  and  with  it  the  curtain  dropped 
on  William  B.  Fasig's  career  as  a  factor  in  the  sale  busi- 
ness. During  nineteen  years  the  firms  with  which  he  was 
connected  either  as  proprietor,  partner  or  manager,  sold 
fourteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-five  harness 
horses  for  $5,364,084,  and  two  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  thoroughbreds  for  $2,186,572,  making  a  total 


SALES    OF    HARNESS    HORSES. 


169 


of  sixteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and  two  horses,  sold 
for  $7,550,656. 

SALES  OF  HARNESS  HORSES. 


Place  and  Date. 

Number 
Sold. 

Total. 

Average  . 

Top 
Figure. 

Cleveland,  May  7,  1884 

27 

$    7,270 

$269.26 

$  1,609 

May  14,  15,  1885 

65 

23,947 

383.94 

1,620 

May  12-14,  1886 

96 

32,077 

a34.34 

2,000 

May  17-19,  1887 

149 

52,565 

352.78 

3,100 

May  15-19,  1888 

2.50 

99,450 

397.80 

4,100 

May  13-18,  1889 

396 

226,949 

562.75 

29,750 

May  12-17,  1890 

265 

98,782 

372.76 

2,950 

Sept.  16-20,  1890 

85 

63,720 

749.64 

6,000 

May  4-11,  1891 

409 

166,080 

406.11 

7,000 

"           Sept.  9-11,  1891 

42 

41,870 

996.90 

13,000 

Feb.  29-Mar.  5,  1892.... 

277 

141,590 

547.26 

9,500 

"           May  17-20,  1892 

118 

39,245 

332.58 

10,500 

108 

49,830 

461.48 

2,6.50 

Feb.  23,  24,  1893 

.54 

55,105 

1,020.46 

13,000 

Cleveland,  Feb.  28-Mar  3,  1893.. . . 

137 

96,769 

706.34 

27,000 

"           May  15-19,  1893 

151 

61 

52,820 
26,280 

349.80 

430.82 

5,750 

New  York,  June  21,  23,  1893 

1,5.50 

Dec.  5-8,  1893 

288 
187 

88,7.55 
30.030 

308.24 
160.58 

5,100 

Cleveland,  Feb.  27-Mar.  3,  1894..  .. 

1,000 

New  York,  April  23,  24,  1894 

129 

43,195 

334  84 

5,250 

Cleveland,  May  23-25,  1894 

137 

35,049 

2.55.83 

4,300 

New  York,  Nov.  2,  3,  1894 

133 
212 

72,960 
84,788 

548.57 
399.99 

4,100 

Nov.  21-23,  1894 

6,950 

Buffalo,       Jan.  16-18,  1895 

140 
168 

24,260 
51,500 

173.28 
305.35 

1,110 

New  York,  Feb.  28-Mar.  2,  1895. . . . 

3,500 

Cleveland,  May  20-25,  1895 

350 

92,055 

263.01 

4,000 

New  York,  Nov.  20-22,  1895 

362 

102,085 

282.00 

2,700 

Feb.  13-15,  1896 

2.54 
316 

120,185 
91,234 

473.16 
291.88 

10,025 

April  28-May  1,  1896  ... 

3,000 

Cleveland,  May  19-22,  1896 

229 

61,550 

268.77 

5,500 

S. Elkhorn,Sept.  28,  29,  1896 

36 

20,0.50 

556.94 

7,250 

New  York,  Nov.  12,  1896 

12 
300 

8,870 
107,800 

739.16 
359.33 

3,525 

Nov.  18-22,  1896 

19,900 

Jan.  20-23,  1897 

301 

74,510 

247.-54 

2,300 

Mar.  3-6,  1897 

270 

73.490 

272.18 

15,600 

April  6-8,  1897 

157 

29,120 

185.47 

4,500 

Cleveland,  May  23-26,  1897 

291 

55,715 

157.09 

3,000 

Nov.  11,  12,  1897 

63 

19,045 

300.23 

1,7,50 

New  York,  Nov.  21-Dee.  1,  1897  .... 

534 

188,017 

35209 

6,200 

Feb.  14-18,  1898 

492 
271 

117,520 
59,742 

238.86 
220.45 

6,000 

Mar.  22-24,  1898 

3,000 

Colmar,      April  5-7,  1898 

146 

48,170 

329  93 

1,350 

170 


SALES   OF    HARNESS   HORSES. 


Place  and  Date. 

Number 
Sold. 

Total. 

Average. 

Top 

Figure. 

Cleveland,  May  16-19,  1898 

245 

59,825 

244.18 

7,800 

New  York,  Nov.  21-Dec.  2,  1898  .... 

714 

258,265 

361.71 

15,000 

Feb.  15-17,  1899 

270 

76,060 

281.70 

6,100 

Glen-Moore,  April  5,  1899 

61 

9,170 

150.32 

735 

Cleveland,  May  16-20,  1899 

225 

91,820 

408.08 

7,500 

July  2.5-27,  1899 

53 

12,895 

243.31 

700 

New  York,  Nov.  20-29,  1899 

678 

292,990 

432.13 

20,000 

Feb.  13-17,  1900 

393 

139,460 

354.86 

6,100 

Mar.  20-21, 1900 

60 

37,255 

620.91 

2,200 

Cleveland,  May  21-26,  1900 

294 

107,925 

366.75 

4,100 

July  28,  29,  1900 

42 

12,570 

299.52 

2,050 

Glen-Moore,  Oct.  17,  1900 

60 

8,785 

148.27 

810 

New  York,  Nov.  26-Dec.  4,  1900  .... 

715 

348,500 

487.41 

26,500 

"           Feb.  13-16,  1901.  . . 

361 

268 

125,320 
100,370 

344.28 
372.27 

9,000 
8,000 

Mar.  19-21,  1901 

Cleveland,  May  21-25,  1901 

316 

93,680 

296.66 

2,700 

New  York,  Nov.  25-Dee.  4,  1901  .... 

922 

495.075 

539.95 

12,100 

Jan.  27-31,  1902 

587 

220,075 

374.91 

15,700 

14,735 

$5,364,084 

SALES  OF  THOROUGHBRED  HORSES. 


Place  and  Date. 


New  York,    June  19,  1899 

Nov.  29,  1899 

Morris  Park,  May  11,  1900 

May  12,  1900 

New  York,     May  24,  25,  1900  . . . 
Brooklyn,     June  12,  1900 

June  13,  1900 

Sheepshead,  June  21,  1900 

June  22,  1900 

June  23,  1900 

June  30,  1900 

July  2,  1900    

July  3,  1900 

Aug.  25,  1900 

Aug.  28,  1900 

Sept.  4,  1900 

Sept.  5,  1900 

Sept.  6,  1900 

Brooklyn,      Sept.  22,  1900 

Nashville,      Sept.  27,  1900 


Number 
Sold. 


48 
43 
30 
22 
126 
24 
12 
14 
25 
19 
17 
23 
24 
11 
25 
9 
9 
12 
9 
49 


Total. 


Average.! 


20,415 
19.175 
38,025 
10,180 
75,725 
16,675 
26,200 

8,925 
13,650 
13,325 

3,225 
16,987 
21,875 

2,075 

7,735 
13,075 

4,580 

8,125 
13,600 

9,840 


$425.23 
445.90 

1,267.-50 
462.72 
601.00 
694  80 

2,183.33 
637  50 
.546.00 
701.31 
189.70 
738.56 
911.46 
159  61 
309.41 

1,452.77 
508.88 
677.08 

1,511.11 
200.81 


Top 
Figure. 


$2,200 
4,000 

11,000 
4,100 
5,000 
3,500 

10,000 

1,600 

3,000 

2,100 

475 

3,750 

3,150 

200 

1,400 

4,300 

1,2.50 

1,300 

3,300 

505 


SALES    OF    THOROUGHBRED    HORSES. 


171 


Place  and  Date. 


Morris  Park,  Oct.  6,  1900 

Oct.  11,  1900 

Oct.  13,  1900 

New  York,     Oct.  18,  1900 

Oct.  19,  1900 

Morris  Park,  Oct.  20,  1900 

Lexington,    Dec.  10-12,  1900 

New  York,    Jan.  30-Feb.  1,  1901. 

Morris  Park,  May  11,  1901   

New  York,     May  24,  1901 

Sheepshead,  June  4,  1901 

Brooklyn,      June  5,  1901 

June  6,  1901 

June  10,  1901 

June  12,  1901 

June  13,  1901 

Sheepshead,  June  14-17,  1901 

New  York,    June  17,  1901 

Sheepshead,  June  20,  1901 

Chicago,        June  20,  1901  

Sheepshead,  June  26,  1901 

June  29,  1901  

July  1,1901 

July  2,  1901 

July  3,  1901 

Brooklyn,     July  27,  1901 

Saratoga,      Aug.  10,  1901 

Sheepshead,  Aug.  31,  1901 

Sept.  2,  1901 


Morr 


Lexi 


Sept.  3,  1901  .... 

Sept.  4,  1901.... 

Sept.  5,  1901  .... 

Sept.  6,  1901  .... 

Sept.  7.  1901 

Sept.  9.  1901  ... . 

Sept.  10,  1901 .  . . 

Sept.  11,  1901  . . . 

Sept.  12,  1901... 

Sept.  14,  1901  .  . . 

Oct.  1,  1901 

Oct.  2,  1901  ... 

Oct.  4,  1901 

s  Park,  Oct.  12,  1901  ... 

Oct.  19,  1901    ... 

Oct  20,  1901  .... 
gton,    Nov.  11,  12,  1901 


Number 
Sold. 


9 

22 
16 
42 
27 
12 
72 

184 
16 
55 
20 
23 
14 
24 
16 
20 

201 
32 
34 
36 
39 
16 
27 
13 
22 
21 
8 
33 
15 
23 
23 
22 
28 
16 
20 
24 
18 
40 
20 
42 
32 
14 
21 
24 
31 

149 


2,167 


Total. 


Average. 


19,850 

8,200 

7,450 

64,700 

21,800 

5,525 

7,515 

404,550 

4,505 

51,525 

54,425 

21,525 

22,025 

19,600 

9,600 

15,380 

234,025 

25,050 

39,9.50 

13,100 

81,7.50 

34,725 

15,170 

14,3.50 

20,080 

51,170 

33,200 

22,775 

9,800 

17,700 

18,975 

16,125 

20,090 

9,000 

14,625 

9,330 

4,785 

28,250 

5,075 

210,200 

24,400 

14,600 

11,2.50 

19,500 

28,700 

47.235 


$2,186,572 


2,205.55 
377.77 
528.12 

1.544.70 
807.40 
460.41 
104.37 

2,198.51 
281.56 
9-54.63 

2,721.25 
935.87 

1,573.21 
816  66 
600.00 
769.00 

1,164.30 
782.81 

1,175.00 
366.99 

2,096  00 

2,170  51 
562  64 

1.103.85 
912.72 

2.437.14 

4,150.00 
69015 
653  33 
769.56 
820  65 
732.95 
717.50 
562.50 
731.25 
388.75 
265.83 
706.25 
253.75 

5.004.75 
762  .50 

1,042.85 
53-5.71 
812.50 
925.80 
317.00 


Top 
Figure. 


8,700 
1,900 
2,500 

30,000 
7,700 
1,600 
1,000 

60,000 
1,500 

10,000 
6,500 
2,600 
7.400 
3,100 
1,600 
4,000 

13,000 
6,500 
5,000 
1,1.50 

23,000 

10,300 
2,100 
4,800 
2.050 

20,500 

10,500 
3,500 
2,100 
2,500 
3,-500 
6,000 
2,700 
1,800 
3,050 
1,100 
1,400 
2.700 
1,800 

25,000 

10,000 
4,-500 
2,600 
3,600 
5,000 
2,425 


172  MEMOIR. 

In  1893,  when  William  B.  Fasig  was  located  in  New 
York  as  manager  of  the  Trotting  Department  of  the  Tat- 
tersall  Companies  in  America,  he  was  elected  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Driving  Club  of  New  York,  and,  while  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  that  office,  contributed  materially 
to  the  success  of  the  Grand  Circuit  meetings  at  Fleetwood, 
not  only  that  season,  but  also  in  1894.  In  the  spring  of 
1895,  he  returned  to  Cleveland  and  resided  there  during 
the  summer  months  of  that  and  the  succeeding  year,  the 
most  of  his  time  during  the  racing  season  being  devoted 
to  a  stable  of  trotters  which  did  not  prove  what  he  termed 
a  "glittering  success."  In  1895,  he  started  Palo  Chief, 
Wyreka,  Rifle,  Eloise  and  Musket,  the  "unluckiest  horse 
in  the  world,"  while,  in  1896,  the  old  standby,  Eloise, 
kept  up  Benny's  reputation  in  the  Buckeye  State  by  first 
equaling  Mayflower's  mile  in  2:16^2  at  a  matinee  of  the 
Gentlemen's  Driving  Club,  and  finally  landing  the  cham- 
pionship honors  for  the  year  with  a  mile  in  2:16^4. 

In  1897,  Fasig  returned  to  New  York  and  accepted 
the  management  of  Charter  Oak  Park,  which  had  been 
purchased  by  Orlando  Jones  and  A.  J.  Welch.  In  June 
of  that  year  he  made  his  first  trip  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and 
started  to  create  a  little  interest  in  the  inaugural  meeting, 
for  which  Monday,  July  5,  was  selected.  In  a  short  time 
he  had  every  one  who  reads  the  newspapers  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  that  is  about  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  population, 
satisfied  that  the  first  mile  in  two  minutes  to  harness  would 
be  paced  over  Charter  Oak.  With  quarter-page  adver- 
tisements in  the  daily  papers,  reading  notices  and  posters, 
he  kept  the  interest  alive  to  the  last  minute.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  give  the  details.  For  that  day's  racing  twenty 
thousand  tickets  were  printed  and  all  of  them  were  sold 
before  noon.    On  a  conservative  estimate,  there  were  over 


THE    END.  17 


Q 


thirty  thousand  people  on  the  grounds.  The  day  was 
blistering  hot  and  the  racing  a  series  of  processions.  John 
R.  Gentry  pulled  a  high-wheeled  sulky  in  2  :oj ^4  m  an 
effort  to  reduce  the  record  of  2  :o6*4  made  by  Johnston 
years  ago,  and  then  started  in  the  free-for-all  with  Star 
Pointer  and  Frank  Agan.  Star  Pointer  won  in  2:o61/l, 
2:0434.  The  other  winners  were  Forest  Herr,  Grace 
Hastings  and  Pastoral.  After  managing  the  Grand  Cir- 
cuit meetings  in  1897,  1898  and  1899,  William  B.  Fasig 
retired  from  racing  and  devoted  the  balance  of  his  time 
to  the  sale  business  and  developing  the  farm  which  he 
purchased  at  Brewster,  N.  Y.,  in  the  spring  of  1900. 
There  he  planned  to  breed  and  develop  a  few  colts,  with 
Tom  Galliger  as  trainer,  but  sickness  knocked  all  of  his 
plans  "aglee."  The  breakdown  came  late  in  1900,  and 
from  that  date  until  the  end  he  was  confined  almost  con- 
tinuously to  his  home.  In  May,  1901,  he  attended  the  sale 
at  Cleveland  and  had  a  severe  attack  while  there.  In 
August,  he  managed  to  make  a  trip  to  Boston  to  attend 
the  Grand  Circuit  meeting  of  the  Xew  England  Trotting 
Horse  Breeders'  Association.  Those  who  saw  him  there 
knew  that  he  was  passing  into  the  shadow.  Hopes  of 
recovery  were,  however,  still  held  out  to  him,  but  this 
trip,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  visits  to  the  Fasig- 
Tipton  Company's  office  in  Xew  York,  was  the  last  time 
that  he  left  his  home  until  the  end  came,  at  BennysclifTe, 
on  Wednesday  evening,  February  19,  1902. 

Enthusiasm  and  superstition  were  William  B.  Fasig's 
two  most  striking  characteristics.  He  loved  a  good  horse 
or  a  man  that  was  fond  of  one,  and  had  a  horror  for  num- 
ber thirteen  or  a  cross-eyed  girl  with  red  hair.  Any  one 
of  the  four  would  stop  him,  and  the  last  two  turn  him 
back  from  any  project  that  he  could  control.    The  thirteen 


174  MEMOIR. 

story,  when  Eloise  won  at  Detroit,  has  been  told.  It  is 
one  of  many  that  could  be  resurrected.  Another  sample 
dates  from  the  fall  of  1895,  when  he  made  an  appointment 
with  Col.  Edwards  and  the  writer  to  put  in  a  day  with 
Pat  Shank,  at  Litchfield,  O.  A  visit  to  Pat's  was  one  of 
the  Colonel's  hobbies,  the  mere  thought  of  a  trip  making 
him  bubble  over  with  good  nature,  and,  with  all  of  his 
tact,  he  had  more  than  his  share  of  it.  The  train  was 
due  to  leave  Cleveland  at  seven,  and,  when  it  pulled  out, 
Fasig  was  not  on  board.  At  dinner,  while  the  Colonel 
was  busy  complimenting  Pat's  housekeeper  on  the  flavor 
of  her  chicken  pie  and  the  crispness  of  the  biscuits,  a  boy 
rushed  in  with  a  telegram.  It  read,  "Missed  train ;  will 
be  with  you  at  two-thirty.  Fasig."  On  his  arrival,  we 
learned  that  he  met  a  cross-eyed  girl  with  red  hair  when 
he  stepped  off  a  St.  Clair  street  car  at  Water  street.  Up 
to  that  time  he  was  trying  to  catch  the  train.  All  he  had 
to  do  was  to  walk  down  the  Water  street  hill,  but  the  girl 
with  the  fatal  combination  made  him  fly  the  track.  The 
average  man,  who  is  bothered  with  such  scruples,  is  some- 
what diffident  in  making  reference  to  them.  Fasig  was 
just  the  reverse,  and  nothing  pleased  him  more  than  spin- 
ning a  yarn  in  which  he  had  a  little  the  worst  of  it,  even 
when  there  was  some  money  or  pride  at  stake ;  but  nothing 
nettled  him  so  much  as  to  have  some  one,  that  he  did  not 
lean  to,  laugh  over  the  same  stories  in  which  he  was  the 
shining  mark.  The  following  is  a  sample  that  he  told  S. 
Freeman  one  afternoon  at  Bennyscliffe : 

"I  have  been  on  the  speedway  but  little,  and  that  little 
has  not  encouraged  me  to  long  for  a  more  extended  expe- 
rience. Once  I  drove  the  chestnut  gelding  Rob  Roy, 
2  123^,  that  I  purchased  for  an  English  gentleman,  paying 
$1,000  in  cold  cash  for  him.  He  was  supposed  to  be  a  fast 


SALE    RING    REMINISCENCES.  175 

wagon  horse,  and  I  set  sail  for  the  speedway  with  consid- 
erable confidence  that  I  could  beat  almost  any  horse  ever 
driven  there ;  but  it  appeared  to  me  that  it  would  be  pru- 
dent to  tackle  some  of  the  unknown  ones  first  and  'size  up' 
my  steed  before  flying  higher  into  the  ranks  of  the  top- 
notchers.  So  I  collared  a  bay  mare  driven  by  a  big  man 
with  a  woman  beside  him.  He  beat  me  easily,  waited  and 
tempted  me  into  another  brush,  and  again  trimmed  me 
with  ease.  Again  he  waited,  but  I  knew  when  I  had 
enough,  so  I  said  to  him :  'Drive  ahead,  you  are  too  fast 
for  me ;  I  don't  want  any  of  your  game.'  He  replied : 
'Don't  you  know  dot  mare,  Fasis:  ?  I  bought  dot  mare  of 
you  in  de  sale.  Don't  you  recomember  I  said  to  you,  "Is 
dot  mare  a  good  von  for  me  to  puy,  Fasig?"  und  you  said 
she  vas,  so  I  bought  her  und  baid  a  hoondred  und  twenty- 
five  dollar  for  her,  und  don't  you  forged  it,  her's  a  goot 
un.  Dey  don'd  tell  aboud  her  in  de  pabers,  but  she  can 
beat  lots  of  dem  dey  plow  aboud.'  I  was  knocked  clean 
off  my  pins.  Here  was  a  $125  nag,  bought  at  my  sale  a 
short  time  before,  making  my  $1,000  horse  look  like  a 
piece  of  lemon  that  had  done  duty  in  a  yesterday's  whisky 
sour." 

At  the  same  time  he  also  recalled  the  following  remin- 
iscences of  the  sale  ring  which  are  worth  preserving: 

"There  is  no  place  in  the  world  where  all  sides  of 
human  nature,  the  ludicrous  as  well  as  the  pathetic,  are 
so  vividly  portrayed.  It  is  an  ever-changing  play  and  I 
imagine  has  much  to  do  with  its  popularity.  Each  year 
adds  to  the  crowds  that  gather  about  the  ring.  Did  you 
ever  notice  the  foreigners  at  a  sale?  A  foreigner  who 
is  bidding  against  an  American  looks  straight  at  the  auc- 
tioneer and  never  takes  his  eyes  off  of  that  functionary. 
But  directly  two  foreigners  get  to  bidding  against  each 


176  MEMOIR. 

other,  there  is  war.  They  are  perhaps  fifteen  feet  apart. 
One  starts  the  bidding  this  way  :  'Dree  hunterd  dollar !' 
The  other  looks  fierce  at  him,  takes  a  step  nearer,  and, 
without  so  much  as  a  glance  at  the  auctioneer,  shouts  : 
'Four  hunterd  dollar!"  Xow  they  glare  at  each  other, 
seeing  nothing,  each  advancing  one  step  nearer  to  the 
other  at  every  bid.  'Fife  hunterd  dollar !'  shouts  the  first, 
with  another  step.  'Seven  hunterd  und  feefty  dollar!' 
'A  tousand  dollar!'  'Fifteen  hunterd  dollar!'  'Dree  tou- 
sand  dollar!'  and  so  the  game  goes  on.  They  become  so 
much  excited  and  glare  so  fiercely  at  each  other,  you  think 
murder  is  about  to  be  done,  as  their  noses  fairly  rub. 
Bombs,  knives,  guns,  and  hatred  of  the  most  murderous 
type,  are  in  their  bosom's  then.  An  hour  after  they  are 
having  zwei  lager  together. 

''Every  one  knows  the  genial  Henry  Fleishmann,  the 
pioneer  foreign  buyer  of  the  American  trotter.  He's  a 
dream  in  a  sale  ring.  The  foreign  contingent  used  to 
think  that  whatever  he  bid  on  must  be  good,  and  some  of 
them  would  therefore  bid  against  him.  That  almost  set 
him  crazy.  He  resorted  to  this  and  that  subterfuge  to 
throw  them  off.  On  one  occasion  we  were  selling  a  gray 
mare  with  a  fast  record  that  Fleishmann  wanted.  He 
got  Gil  Curry  to  do  the  bidding  for  him,  so  that  other 
buyers  for  the  foreign  market  would  not  know  he  was 
after  her.  The  signal  arranged  between  them  was  that 
Fleishmann  should  hold  a  catalogue  against  his  breast, 
and  every  time  he  wanted  to  raise  the  bid  he  was  to  push 
the  catalogue  against  his  chin.  He  took  his  position  right 
in  front  of  the  box,  folding  his  arms  across  his  breast, 
crossing  his  legs  in  a  dignified  and  ostensibly  disinterested 
manner.  The  bidding  was  spirited,  and,  with  each  raise 
made  by  Fleishmann,  he  pushed  the  catalogue  higher  and 


BOUGHT   THE    WRONG    HORSE.  177 

higher,  forgetting  in  his  excitement  to  lower  it  between 
bids.  So,  higher  and  higher  went  the  chin,  until  disloca- 
tion of  the  neck  was  threatened,  when,  fortunately  for  the 
prince  of  good  fellows,  the  mare  was  knocked  down  to 
him.  The  signal,  however,  had  been  so  plain  that  the 
crowd  got  'next,'  and  the  performance  furnished  many  a 
hearty  laugh  while  the  bidding  was  in  progress. 

"Another  time  he  had  examined  a  mare  and  decided 
to  bid  on  her  when  she  was  offered.  It  happened,  how- 
ever, that  when  her  turn  came  another  animal  was  led  in, 
but  he,  having  kept  track  of  the  number  preceding  the 
number  of  the  mare,  took  it  for  granted  that  the  animal 
he  wanted  was  in  the  ring,  without  consulting  the  figures 
hung  out  on  the  stand.  He  hid  behind  the  box  and  made 
his  bids  where  his  rivals  could  not  see  him.  The  mare 
was  knocked  down  to  him  and  he  went  down  to  the  stalls 
to  look  her  over  again.  To  his  horror  he  then  found  he 
had  bought  the  wrong  horse.  An  hour  or  two  after,  he 
encountered  one  of  his  rivals.  'Mr.  Fleishmann,'  said  he, 
'you  bought  a  mare  awhile  ago  that  I  wanted.  Will  you 
sell  her  to  me  ?'  'Yes,'  answered  Fleishmann.  'How  much 
profit  do  you  want?'  'Well,  you  are  a  cavalier.'  T  am  a 
cavalier,'  returned  Fleishmann.  'We  are  friends.  You 
will  not  bid  against  me  some  time  when  I  want  another 
horse,  I  let  you  have  that  mare  at  just  what  I  bid.  I 
charge  you  no  profit.  You  just  go  to  the  cashier,  pay  for 
her  and  she  is  yours.' 

'The  new  buyer  thanked  him  profusely.  They  had  a 
drink  and  he  paid  for  the  mare.  Then  he  went  below  to 
look  at  her,  and  it  was  his  turn  to  rush  back. 

"  'Air.  Fleishmann,  I  don't  want  dot  mare.  That  iss 
not  the  mare  I  thought  I  vas  buying".'  'Well,'  said  Mr. 
Fleishmann,  with  a  satisfied  glitter  in  his  eye,  'that  is  the 


178  MEMOIR. 

mare  you  did  buy.  She  is  not  the  mare  I  thought  I  was 
buying  either,  so  you  just  keep  the  mare.'  And  he  proud- 
ly strode  to  another  part  of  the  building." 

Another  of  Fasig's  stories  was  tacked  on  to  an  old 
driver,  who  was  located  at  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  spring  of  188 — ,  this  man 
was  training  a  mare  that  was  owned  by  two  young  men 
who  had  an  idea  that  they  knew  a  trotter  on  sight.  After 
the  jogging  days  of  April  and  May  were  over,  they  came 
out  to  the  track  regularly  twice  a  week  to  see  the  mare 
work,  but  they  could  never  strike  the  right  time.  She 
had  either  been  worked  the  day  before  or  had  just  been 
worked,  was  a  little  off,  would  be  worked  the  next  day, 
or  something  of  that  sort.  The  weeks  ran  into  months, 
and,  while  the  mare  looked  good,  they  never  had  a  chance 
to  see  her  opened  up.  Finally,  growing  desperate,  they 
both  appeared  on  the  scene  and  demanded  a  trial,  or  a  day 
and  hour  when  they  could  see  one.  About  this  time  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  engaged  the  track  for  an  entertain- 
ment and  an  exhibition  drill.  In  order  to  give  the  occu- 
pants of  the  Grand  Stand  an  unobstructed  view  of  the 
infield,  the  Judges'  stand  was  moved  almost  half  way  to 
the  distance.  The  trial  was  fixed  for  the  day  after  the 
drill  and  was  limited  to  two  fast  quarters.  After  a  couple 
of  slow  miles,  this  cautious  trainer  stepped  the  natty  little 
mare,  to  the  unbounded  delight  of  her  owners,  the  last 
quarter  in  thirty-four  seconds,  and  repeated  it  in  thirty- 
three  seconds ;  all  of  which  was  in  the  day  of  old-style 
sulkies  with  high  wheels.  Pledging  the  driver  to  secrecy, 
the  happy  pair  of  owners  decided  then  and  there  that  as 
the  season  was  well  advanced  they  would  keep  the  mare 
over  and  make  a  killing  in  the  "big  ring"  the  following 
year.     The  trainer  never  said  boo,   and  never  made  a 


COMBINATION    OF    CONTRADICTIONS.  179 

complaint  when  they  took  the  mare  away  from  him  the 
following  spring  and  turned  her  over,  for  the  "grand  prep- 
aration," to  a  swell  trainer.  Finally,  when  the  workout 
days  of  June  came  again  and  the  "apple  of  their  eye"  could 
not  trot  a  quarter  better  than  forty  seconds,  rigged  with 
the  best  that  money  could  buy,  they  took  a  tumble.  The 
mare  was  taken  home,  her  owners  bought  a  yacht,  and  the 
trainer  told  Fasig  the  story. 

From  the  day  that  I  first  met  William  B.  Fasig,  until 
the  end,  I  found  him  a  combination  of  contradictions. 
His  sympathies  were  always  with  the  weaker  side,  but 
even  with  that  knowledge  to  bank  on,  no  one  could  deter- 
mine in  advance  what  stand  he  would  take  on  any  propo- 
sition, from  flipping  a  copper  to  a  change  in  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States.  Then  he  had  his  hobbies,  and 
when  in  the  saddle  he  could  make  Uncle  Toby  look  like  a 
blue  chip  in  a  jack  pot.  To  convince  him  with  an  argu- 
ment was  out  of  the  question,  but  if  you  were  satisfied 
that  you  were  right,  if  you  walked  off  and  left  him  for  a 
day  or  two,  he  would  wheel  into  line.  His  vanity,  and  he 
had  no  small  share  of  that  quality,  would  not  let  him  ad- 
mit it ;  but  if  he  did  not  take  up  the  argument  again  on 
sight,  he  was  with  you.  For  many  a  day  it  was  a  hard 
matter  for  Fasig  to  say  a  good  word  of  any  one  who  dif- 
fered with  him,  but  when  he  was  with  you,  like  Jack 
Batchelor's  poker  game,  the  limit  of  his  support  was 
bounded  by  the  green  earth  and  the  blue  sky. 

When  completing  this  memoir,  instead  of  giving  my 
estimate  of  William  B.  Fasig  as  a  horseman,  advertiser, 
reinsman,  writer  and  a  man,  I  requested  a  few  of  those 
who  knew  him  best  to  contribute  a  few  lines.  It  was  a 
happy  idea,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following : 


180  MEMOIR. 

A  HORSEMAN. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  28,  1902. — William  B.  Fasig's 
success  in  the  horse  business,  and  he  certainly  made  a 
success,  was  due  not  so  much  to  business  methods  or  atten- 
tion to  details,  or  thorough  familiarity  with  pedigrees,  as 
to  his  appreciation  of  the  merits  of  the  horse  himself  as 
an  individual ;  his  quick  eye  for  gait  and  action  ;  his  knowl- 
edge of  what  it  took  to  make  a  race  horse  or  a  gentleman's 
road  horse ;  his  frankness  in  telling  a  customer  what  he 
knew  or  believed,  and  his  ability  to  express  his  opinion 
in  a  pleasant  and  straightforward  manner. 

With  him  there  was  no  horse  but  the  trotter,  except 
for  commercial  purposes,  and  he  purposely  limited  his 
thought,  his  study  and  his  conversations  (about  horses)  to 
the  animal  that  he  loved.  He  would  talk  for  hours  with 
a  horseman  about  a  good  trotter,  if  he  had  not  seen  him 
himself  and  believed  him  good,  and  refuse  to  discuss  busi- 
ness involving  thousands  of  dollars,  simply  saving,  "I 
am  engaged;  get  Tipton  to  attend  to  that." 

His  hobbies  were  team  trotting  and  wagon  racing,  and 
I  never  saw  a  man  who  could  beat  him  selecting  two  trot- 
ters to  go  together.  Few  men,  very  few,  if  any,  could 
beat  him  hitching  a  pair  of  fast  horses,  and  those  who 
could  beat  him  driving  them  after  he  had  hitched  them, 
could  be  counted  on  the  fingers  of  one  hand.  Consider- 
ing his  weight,  he  was  one  of  the  very  best  drivers  to 
wagon  that  I  ever  saw,  and  I  have  seen  most  of  them.  Yet, 
with  all  this  knowledge  and  good  judgment,  he  had  his 
weak  side  with  horses,  and,  strange  to  say,  that  weakness 
was  his  lack  of  nerve  in  buying,  his  fear  of  paving  out 
big  money  for  what  his  judgment  told  him  to  buy,  and 
that  alone  kept  him  from  being  a  very  rich  man. 


AN   ADVERTISER.  181 

All  in  all,  however,  I  think  he  was  one  of  the  very  best 
horseman  in  his  line  (trotters)  that  America  has  produced, 
and  I  do  not  expect  to  see  his  like  soon  again. 

Ed.  A.  Tipton. 

AN  ADVERTISER. 

Magnolia  Springs,  Ala.,  Nov.  4,  1902. — The  late 
lamented  Fasig  was  a  natural  expert  in  advertising  the 
goods  he  had  to  sell. 

The  Grand  Circuit  Stewards  of  the  days  when  he  and 
Colonel  Edwards  ruled  in  Cleveland,  knew  their  man. 
Fasig  wrote  all  the  Grand  Circuit  display  ads.  They  were 
always  concise,  pointed  and  eyeable.  The  work  was  easy 
for  Fasig.  He  loved  the  trotter  and  laid  on  his  paint  with 
the  hand  of  a  lover. 

Fasig's  sign  displays  were  as  attractive  as  those  in  the 
newspapers.  He  just  had  what  newspaper  folks  call  ad- 
writing  sense  to  a  fuller  measure  than  any  other  fellow, 
in  any  particular  line,  I  ever  ran  across.  His  copy  was  per- 
fect. Then,  too,  it  was  wise — chock  full  of  the  kindly, 
pointed,  comfortable  wisdom  that  goes  home  and  brings 
results.  One  year — I  think  it  was  Directors' — he  plas- 
tered Cleveland  and  its  surroundings  with  "My  Kingdom 
for  a  Horse"  posters.  It  was  an  apt  phrase  and  drew.  He 
used  some  such  device  yearly,  and  never  missed  his  mark. 
This  advertising  sense  of  Fasig's,  coupled  with  the  knack 
of  thoroughly  knowing  the  good  material  about  him,  and 
the  ability  to  get  it  into  attractive  groups,  was  one  of  the 
gifts  that  made  W.  B.  Fasig  the  leader  of  his  time  among 
the  men  who  cared  for  the  racing  side  of  the  American 
harness  horse.  F.  H.  Brunell. 


182  MEMOIR. 

A  SECRETARY. 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  24,  1902. — My  acquaintance 
with  the  late  W.  B.  Fasig  dates  back  some  twenty-five 
years.  During  the  days  of  the  old  Grand  Circuit,  I  met 
him  frequently  and  was  on  the  most  intimate  terms  with 
him.  I  always  found  him  a  man  of  excellent  judgment, 
trustworthy  and  faithful  in  his  duties  as  a  secretary.  He 
always  had  a  pleasant  word  for  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact,  and  in  his  death  I  lost  a  warm,  personal  friend. 

Geo.  W.  Archer. 

A  WRITER. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  January  1,  1903. — When  you  can 
find  the  power  to  grasp  an  idea,  and  the  ability  to  group 
facts  in  logical  form,  you  create  a  writer  who  appeals 
to  the  largest  number  of  readers.  The  statistician 
without  a  spark  of  imagination  is  as  dry  as  bone 
dust.  William  B.  Fasig  had  the  poetic  temperament  and 
sugar-coated  his  facts  in  a  way  to  make  them  palatable  to 
thousands.  The  touch  of  his  genius  caused  the  old  to  take 
on  the  fragrance  and  perfume  of  violets.  I  had  many  a 
little  controversy  in  the  public  prints  with  him,  but  no 
wounds  were  inflicted  that  did  not  heal  quickly.  The 
grace  of  his  pen  was  admitted  by  all  who  followed  it,  and 
he  is  borne  in  sweet  remembrance  by 

Hamilton  Busbey. 


Chicago,  111.,  Oct.  29,  1902. — It  is  an  axiom  among 
critics  of  literature  that  "The  style  is  the  man."  Of  Wil- 
liam B.  Fasig  this  was  particularly  true.  What  he  wrote 
was     racy    of    his    personality — original,    idiosyncratic, 


A    REINSMAN.  183 

always  the  antipodes  of  commonplace.  It  reflected  his 
immense  observation,  the  freshness  of  his  point  of  view 
and  the  accuracy  but  nervousness  of  his  thought.  Like 
the  man,  also,  it  was  not  always  free  from  prejudice,  but 
that  prejudice  was  always  honest,  always  for  what,  to  his 
convictions,  seemed  best.  Though  never,  except  as  occa- 
sion prompted,  a  writer  for  the  turf  press,  no  professional 
writer  ever  possessed  a  better  gift  of  self-expression.  Few 
were  ever  so  many-sided.  In  a  set  argument  his  forensic 
ability  was  conspicuous.  As  a  descriptive  writer,  his  vivid 
phrases  always  brought  clearly  to  the  mind  of'  the  reader 
what  they  were  intended  to  depict.  He  had  a  vein  of 
sentiment,  a  vein  of  romance,  a  vein  of  humor — and  al- 
ways the  "touch  of  nature."  John  L.  Hervey. 

A  REINSMAN. 

Cleveland,  O.,  Nov.  12,  1902. — Brim  full  of  romance 
and  sentiment,  he  idealized  and  loved  his  horses — and  his 
sport.  A  broad  and  fertile  mind  absorbed  readily  the 
knowledge,  and  a  natural  genius  made  him  apply  that 
knowledge  well. 

A  kindly,  gentle  nature  gave  him  light  hands,  and  won 
the  confidence  of  dumb  animals.  A  quick  excitability 
sometimes  upset  his  equipoise  and  unbalanced  his  judg- 
ment, but  his  natural  sunny,  bright  and  buoyant  disposi- 
tion soon  put  him  at  rights  again.  He  was  an  exception- 
ably  fine  reinsman,  and  a  thorough  horseman,  absolutely 
free  from  imitation  or  conceit.  H.  K.  Devereux. 

A  MAN. 

Franklin,  Pa.,  Oct.  27,  1902. — It  was  my  pleasure  to 
know  the  late  William  B.  Fasig  for  nearly  twenty-five 
years,  chiefly  as  a  secretary  of  the  Cleveland  Driving  Park. 


184  MEMOIR. 

As  a  secretary  he  was  a  model,  possessed  of  genius  and 
daring,  that  easy  way  of  meeting  and  parting  with  all 
which  sent  even  the  losers  home  satisfied  that  they  had 
received  fair  treatment.  The  duties  of  his  position  as  sec- 
retary were  always  conducted  in  a  manner  above  reproach. 
He  was  genial,  witty  and  wise,  of  sanguine  temperament 
and  an  unfailing  fund  of  good  humor  which  made  him 
the  life  of  any  company  which  he  might  join.  He  was 
warm-hearted  and  generous  to  a  fault.  His  friends  were 
of  all  classes,  from  the  swipe  to  the  multimillionaire.  In 
meeting  men  he  recognized  the  best  in  all.  He  was  loyal 
to  his  friends  and  generous  to  his  enemies.  Like  each  one 
of  us  he  had  his  failings,  but  in  the  minds  of  his  friends 
his  kindly  traits  were  so  many  as  to  almost  completely 
hide  them.  The  American  trotting  horse  had  few  stouter 
champions,  and  when  horsemen  of  the  present  generation 
meet  there  will  always  be  a  pleasant,  kindly  word  to  the 
memory  of  William  B.  Fasig. 

His  race  has  ended,  the  contest  finished,  and  whether 
his  be  the  first  premium  or  otherwise,  the  decision  is  be- 
fore a  Judge,  who,  in  reviewing  the  race,  knows  the  obsta- 
cles and  the  hindrances  he  encountered,  the  unfair  driving 
of  others,  and  One  who,  holding  the  scales  even,  metes 
out  equal  and  exact  justice  to  all;  and  the  wish  of  every 
American  horseman  who  knew  William  B.  Fasig  is,  "May 
he  rest  in  peace."  Joseph  C.  Sibley. 

I  A  FEW  PRESS  COMMENTS. 

His  judgment  on  horses  was  good,  but  so  remarkably 
fair  was  he  in  his  opinions  when  given  to  others,  that  he 
seemed  to  have  better  success  in  advising  others  what  to 
buy  than  in  buying    for   himself,  and    during   his    long 


PRESS    COMMENTS.  185 

career,  both  as  secretary  and  sale  manager,  no  man  could 
say  that  William  B.  Fasig  ever  gave  him  any  wrong  ad- 
vice in  order  to  get  his  money. — American  Horse  Breeder. 

He  died  as  he  lived,  a  sportsman. — Trotter  and  Pacer. 

Xo  man  had  a  bigger  heart  than  William  B.  Fasig,  and 
he  wore  it  on  his  sleeve. — Breeder  and  Sportsman. 

He  was  a  man  of  impulse  rather  than  of  consummate 
tact,  but  unflagging  industry  brought  him  success. — Turf, 
Field  and  Farm. 

His  business  methods,  integrity,  and  a  genius  for  ad- 
vertising gave  the  business  of  selling  horses  at  public  auc- 
tion a  status  that  is  now  reaching  its  full  fruition. — 
Chicago  Tribune. 

With  Fasig  it  was  always  the  trotting  horse  interest 
first,  and  his  interests  incidentally,  if  at  all.  A  large  man 
physically,  he  was  also  big  hearted,  and  friends  he  never 
forgot. — Western  Horseman. 

He  was  hospitable  and  liberal  almost  to  a  fault,  a  rare 
entertainer  and  possessed  of  a  keen  sense  of  humor. — 
American  Sportsman. 

Fasig  was  an  exceedingly  magnetic  man,  he  had  a 
charming  personality,  and  in  every  circle  he  entered  he 
soon  became  its  centre  and  sun.  He  had  a  great,  generous, 
sympathetic  heart,  and  was  always  on  the  side  of  the 
under  dog,  even  when  appearances  were  against  the  dog. 
— Spirit  of  the  Times. 

His  remarkable  talents  were  wholly  devoted  to  the 
trotting  industry.  His  interest  was  never  a  merely  mer- 
cenary one,  and  his  pen  and  voice,  as  well  as  his  time, 
were  unceasingly  employed  in  behalf  of  what  was  best  for 
the  harness  horse  on  and  oft"  the  turf. — The  Horse  Re- 
view. 


18G  MEMOIR. 

William  B.  Fasig  was  thoroughly  informed  on  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  trotting  horse,  his  breeding  and 
training,  and  no  one  knew  better  than  he  did  how  to  suc- 
cessfully conduct  a  race  meeting. — Kentucky  Stock  Farm. 

W.  H.  Gocher. 


Hartford,  Conn., 
January  21,  1903. 


Tales  of  the  Turf 


WITH    A    FEW    ODDS    AND    ENDS 


GATHERED 


FROM    EVERYWHERE 


TROTTING    TRACKS. 


(Published  in   "The  Spirit  of  the  Times,"  December  24,  1887.) 


"Now,  boys,  don't  think  you  can  go  out  into  the  com- 
mons, with  a  piece  of  rope  and  a  halter-strap,  and  lay  out 
a  track,  for  you  can't/'  was  the  remark  of  "Uncle  Pe- 
ter," an  eccentric,  good  natured  old  gentleman  of  Yankee 
extraction,  and  country  surveyor  of  "ye  olden  time"  pro- 
fession, who  loved  a  horse  much  better  than  his  service- 
able surveyor's  chain,  to  some  dozen  of  us  village  lads 
years  agone,  and  shortly  after  the  little  bob-tailed  Flora 
Temple  clipped  the  wings  of  the  phantom  scythe-bearer, 
electrifying  the  world  by  the  achievement,  and  making  the 
then  obscure  town  of  Kalamazoo  famous.  No  portion 
of  the  world  was  more  enthused  over  the  feat  than  that 
bounded  by  the  corporation  limits  of  Ashland,  O.,  for 
Ashland  was  a  "horsey"  town,  and  almost  every  boy 
there  thought  he  had  a  trotter  that  could  give  even  Flora 
Temple  a  race  (mine  was  "Nellie,"  a  bob-tailed  roan 
mare  of  uncertain  age  and  wheezy  propensities),  if  we 
only  had  a  track  to  practice  upon.  Besides,  wasn't  Ash- 
land County  the  home  of  Post  Boy,  Camden,  Telamon, 
Bacchus,  Blackbird,  Grey  Eagle  and  Stump  Puller  and 
didn't  "Uncle  Peter"  own  a  black  mare  by  Camden,  "the 
very  picter  of  Flora  Temple,  only  she  war  black,"  as 
"Uncle  Peter"  asserted,  and  he  ought  to  know,  for  hadn't 
he  seen  "Flora  trot  at  Cleveland?" 


TROTTING    TRACKS.  189 

But  a  truce  to  these  reminiscences  of  boyhood's  times 
and  trotting  aspirations.  Suffice  it  to  say  that,  with  Un- 
cle Peter's  assistance,  we  built  a  track  of  tan-bark,  and 
from  that  time  Ashland's  trotters  were  not  short  of  work, 
if  they  were  deficient  in  Flora's  2  :i9%  speed.  But  what 
a  great  day  it  was  for  our  country  when  my  Nellie  beat 
the  local  star,  Lucy,  and  trotted  in  just  3  103  !  Uncle  Peter 
came  to  his  chain's  length  years  ago ;  the  hair  of  most 
of  the  lads  is  nearly  as  gray  as  his  was  then ;  the  wildest 
one  of  the  band  is  a  minister;  the  swiftest  runner  is  one 
of  the  leading  railroad  magnates  on  the  Pacific  Coast; 
the  richest  boy  is  working  for  "day's  wages"  in  a  mine 
of  the  "stuff"  he  so  lavishly  squandered;  the  red-headed 
boy,  who  read  "Dick  Turpin"  and  "Claude  Duval"  dur- 
ing school  hours,  is  a  professional  gambler;  a  number 
have  joined  Uncle  Peter,  and,  let  us  hope,  are  bearing 
the  endless  golden  chain  of  happiness ;  and,  as  a  fit  apro- 
pos, the  only  one  who  adopted  the  horse  profession  "for 
a  livin'  "  should  have  been  the  best  boy.  But  I  doubt 
if  I  was  above  the  average  in  this  respect,  and,  were  the 
point  left  to  the  minister  aforesaid,  his  decision  would 
have  been  a  dead  heat  between  him  and  me — for  I  am 
that  "only  one." 

2  11934  is  now  only  a  jog  for  many  of  our  flyers  ;  still 
many  of  us  are  "hankering"  after  that  jog. 

How  to  Build  a  Track. 

First  get  your  land,  then  get  a  surveyor,  would  be 
my  prescription.  Forty-nine  acres  for  a  mile,  fourteen 
acres  for  a  half-mile  track — but  don't  forget  the  sur- 
veyor. This  acreage  is  simply  what  is  necessary  for  a 
track  having  a  homestretch  sixty-five  feet  and  a  back- 
stretch  forty  feet  wide,  and  does  not  include  the  land 


190 


TALES   OF    THE   TURF. 


tilL 


M 

O 

'  But 


Wire 


00 

ir 


0 


fee: 


'»f^ 


ail* 


i  o 


Fig.  I— Mile  Track. 


TROTTING    TRACKS.  191 

required  for  buildings.  That,  and  the  width  of  a  track, 
are  matters  for  each  association  to  decide  for  itself,  and 
will  vary  according  to  the  uses  to  which  the  track  is  to 
be  put.  For  strictly  a  trotting  association  or  county 
fair  ground,  I  think  from  ten  to  twelve  acres  about  the 
proper  quantity. 

In  the  calculations  and  illustrations  presented,  dis- 
tances are  stated  in  feet,  and  (generally  decimal)  frac- 
tions thereof.  The  illustrations  will,  I  think,  give  any- 
one a  clear  idea  of  how  to  lay  out  a  track  much  better 
than  any  written  description  can,  if  the  ground  be  sus- 
ceptible of  having  one  built  of  regulation  form.  If  not, 
then  special  engineering  is  necessary.  Special  mention 
need  only  be  made  of  the  methods  for  laying  out  turns, 
as  the  stretches  are  simply  matters  of  distances  fully  ex- 
plained in  the  illustrations.  There  are  three  plans  which 
I  regard  the  best  to  work  by : 

The  Engineer's  Plan. 

For  experts  with  approved  instruments.  For  a  regu- 
lation mile  track  (see  fig.  i)  ;  From  points  of  curve  de- 
flect angles  of  3  degrees  and  lay  off  chords  of  43-9&  feet. 
Ordinates  from  these  chords  (see  detail  fig.  4)  at  one- 
fourth  and  one-half  their  length,  are  respectively  0.43  foot 
and  0.58  foot. 

For  a  half-mile  track  (see  fig.  3)  ;  From  points  of 
curve  deflect  angles  of  6  degrees  and  lay  off  chords  43.92 
feet.  Ordinates  from  these  chords  (see  detail  fig.  5)  at 
one-fourth  and  one-half  their  length,  are  respectively  0.86 
foot  and  1.15  feet. 

The  Surveyor's  Plan. 
For  surveyors  with  ordinary  surveying  implements. 
The  illustrations  (see  figs.  1  and  2)  will  clearly  indicate 


192 


TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 


Method  of  Laying  Out  Turn  Recommended  to  Amateurs. 


Method  of  Laying  Out  Turn  Recommended  for  Surveyors 
with  Ordinary  Instruments. 

Fig.  2—Half-Mile  Track. 


TROTTING    TRACKS. 


193 


the  simple  methods  for  both  mile  and  half-mile  tracks. 
(As  an  assistance  to  surveyors  in  making  a  true  curve, 
see  details  figs.  6  and  7.)  This  plan  is  susceptible  of  being 
worked  by  anyone  with  tape-line  and  wire,  but,  as  it  is 
necessary  to  get  the  ordinates  at  exactly  right  angles  to 


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V-lO  '7 
Fig.  3 — Regulation  Half-Mile  Track.    Engineer  s  Plan. 

the  chords,  and  but  a  slight  deviation  therefrom  would 
affect  the  curve,  I  strongly  advise  all  amateurs  to  adopt 

The  Amateur's  Plan, 

which  is  so  plainly  illustrated  in  figs.  2  and  8.  Having 
laid  out  the  straight  lines,  as  indicated,  all  that  is  then 
necessary,  for  a  mile  track,  is  a  piece  of  wire,  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty  feet  two  and  one-eighth  inches  long 
(420.17  feet).  From  a  stake  driven  at  the  intersection 
of  the  long  middle  line  with  the  line  that  runs  from  the 
commencement  of  the  turn  on  one  stretch  to  its  com- 
mencement on  the  other,  stretch  this  wire  at  any  angle 
as  many  times  as  you  like  (the  oftener  the  better)  and 
its  end  will  be  a  point  on  the  turn.  If  the  wire  is  held 
level  it  will  be  impossible  to  make  a  mistake  in  this  sim- 
ple method.     If  the  ground  is  not  level   (slight  inequal- 


194 


TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 


itjes  will  not  affect  the  result)  the  wire  should  be  raised 
at  both  ends  so  as  to  make  it  level.  The  oftener  these 
radii  are  struck  the  easier  it  is  to  form  a  true  curve. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  observe  any  stated  distances  between 
the  points  on  the  curve.  You  cannot  go  wrong,  for  the 
end  of  the  wire  will  always  be  at  the  turn;  therefore  if 
some  obstruction  exists,  skip  it  and  stretch  the  wire  at 
shorter  or  longer  distances  apart  at  that  particular  place. 
For  a  half-mile  track  the  wire  will  be  two  hundred  and 


3        ulo  '7 


Detail  Fig.  i—For  Engineers.     Showing  Chords  and  Sub-ordinates  to  Fig  I. 
{Regulation  Mile  Track). 

ten  feet  one  and  one-sixteenth  inch  (210.08  feet)  long, 
and  the  method  is,  of  course,  the  same.  A  wire  is  better 
than  a  rope  or  cord,  as  the  latter  will  stretch. 

The  foregoing  gives  the  true  mile  or  half-mile  line. 
Set  the  fence  just  three  feet  inside  this  line,  on  both  the 
turns  and  stretches  (see  dotted  lines  in  illustrations,  figs. 
1  and  2),  and  a  regulation  mile  or  half-mile  track  is  the 
result. 


TROTTING    TRACKS. 


195 


While  speaking  of  fences,  be  sure  and  have  a  hub- 
beard  on  the  pole  one,  and  have  the  one  that  encloses 
the  grounds  high  enough  to  defeat  the  efforts  of  fence 
scalers — and  it  need  be  high,  for  they  are  climbers  from 
the  headwaters  of  Climber's  Creek.  A  couple  of  barbed 
wires  strung  on  top  of  the  fence,  about  eight  or  ten 
inches  apart,  is  a  cheap  thing,  and  not  a  cheerful  pros- 
pect to  these  vermin. 

The  turns  on  a  mile  track  should  be  "thrown  up" 
one  foot  in  ten  of  width,  so  that  a  turn  forty  feet  wide 


Detail  Fig.  5  (to  Fig.  3)— For  Engineers  {Half-Mile  Track). 

would,  at  its  highest  point,  be  four  feet  higher  at  the 
outside  than  at  the  pole.  On  a  half-mile  track  the  turns 
should  be  "thrown  up"  one  foot  and  three  inches  in  every 
ten  feet  of  width,  or  five  feet  on  a  forty-foot  turn.  It 
is  obvious  that  this  rise  cannot  be  abruptly  made  at  the 
commencement  of  the  turn,  and  I  would  therefore  recom- 
mend that  it  be  commenced  far  enough  back  from  that 
point  so  that  one-half  of  the  total  rise  would  be  gained  at 
the  commencement  of  the  turn.  For  convenience,  it  would 
be  well  to  lay  off  stations  of  forty-four  feet  each,  com- 
mencing four  stations  back  from  the  point  of  curve  and 
gradually  raising  one-half  foot  in  each  station,   so  that 


196 


TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 


when  the  commencement  of  the  turn  was  reached  two  feet 
of  the  outside  elevation  would  be  gained.  From  that 
point  the  grade  could  be  increased  to  one  foot  in  each 
forty-four-foot  station,  until  the  required  outside  elevation 
was  reached.  This  "throwing  up"  of  the  turns  should 
be  commenced  on  both  stretches  for  both  turns  and 
worked  towards  the  apex  of  each. 

For  draining  purposes  it  is  well  to  have  the  outside 
of  the  stretches  somewhat  higher  than  at  the  pole — say 


Detail  Fig.  6 — For  Surveyors,  Showing  Chords  and  Sub-ordinates  to  Fig.  1, 
tor  the  Purpose  of  Assisting  in  Turning  Curves  {Regulation  Mile  Track). 


one  foot.  Two  feet»inside  the  pole  fence  there  should 
be  a  ditch  at  least  a  foot  wide  and  the  same  in  depth, 
to  receive  the  drainage;  and  at  intervals  of  twenty-five 
feet,  or  oftener  if  required  by  wet  spots,  there  should 
be  small  gutters  from  the  inside  edge  of  the  track  to  the 
ditch.  These  gutters  must  be  shallow,  especially  on  the 
turns,  to  avoid  carrying  the  water  off  too  rapidly,  and 


TROTTING   TRACKS. 


19: 


by  so  doing  creating  small  "wash-out"  places  on  the  track 
opposite  them. 

Soil  and  Grades. 

Of  course,  natural  soil,  if  the  right  kind,  is  the  best. 
If,  however,  the  soil  is  naturally  sandy,  then  the  road- 
bed must  be  covered  with  a  dressing,  about  6  inches  deep, 
of  clay  or  clay-loam,  and  be  as  free  as  possible  from 
pebbles.  Therefore,  in  choosing  between  two  locations, 
the  one  with  the  naturally  good  soil  has  many  advan- 
tages ;  for  the  cost  of  top-dressing  a  track  is  a  larger 
item  than  those  not  posted  would  imagine,  even  though 
the  desired  soil  be  close  at  hand.  Besides,  the  natural 
soil  wears  much  better  than  the  artificial  article,  the  lat- 
ter having  to  be  renewed  every  few  seasons,  while  the 
former  not  only  lasts  much  longer,  but  when  worn  out 
the  top  can  be  plowed  under  and  new  soil  brought  to  the 
surface  at  very  slight  expense.     Between  clay,  clay  loam, 


Detail  Fig.  7  (to  Fig.  2)— For  Surrey ors.    Regulation  Half-Mile  Track 

muck,  or  any  rich  soil  that  packs  readily,  with  the  least 
tendency  to  "cup,"  there  is  little  choice. 

The  care  of  a  track  has  much  more  to  do  with  its  speed 
than  is  generally  supposed.  Tracks  differ  so  much  in  the 
nature  of  the  soil  that  to  write  down  rules  as  to  their 


198 


TALKS   OF  THE   TURF. 


care  and  preparation  would  be  like  giving  a  set  formula 
to  train  every  horse  by  and  expect  the  best  results.  The 
old  Chicago  track,  at  a  certain  stage  after  a  rain,  was 
one  of  the  fastest  that  ever  I  saw,  and  strange  to  say,  its 
particularly  fast  stage  would  be  the  slowest  stage  of  the 
Cleveland  track,  and  the  latter  would  be  dead  and  cuppy. 
Later  on,  as  they  became  drier,  the  Chicago  track  would 
get  too  hard,  and  the  Cleveland  track  get  right.  I  think 
that  the  Cleveland  track  stays  in  condition  a  longer  time 
without  rain  than  almost  any  in  the  country.  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  has  a  wonderful  track.  It  is  of  natural  soil, 
and  very  fast  soil  at  that,  and,  I  am  told,  gets  but  little 


Fig.  S — Best  Method  for  laying  out  turns  of  mile  track  for  amateurs,  with  a 
wire  four  hundred  and  twenty  and  seventeen  hundredths  feet  (—  420  feet  _'  9 
inches)  long.     (For  half-mile  tracks  reduce  one-half.     See  Fig.  2). 

care.  Although,  during  the  training  season — which  com- 
mences there  early  and  continues  late — there  are  prob- 
ably on  an  average  one  hundred  horses  trained  over  it 
daily,  and  nothing  has  been  done  to  it  in  the  way  of 
renewing  the  surface  for  over  ten  years,  yet  it  is  as  lively 
and  fresh  as  any  track  in  America,  and  I  doubt  if  there 
is  a  faster  one.  Any  other  track  I  know  of,  with  the 
same  use,  would  be  utterly  and  irrevocably  worn  out  and 


TROTTING    TRACKS.  199 

not  fast  enough  for  a  first-class  funeral  procession.  Buf- 
falo has  also  a  naturally  fast  track,  but  it  is  miserably 
conditioned. 

A  slight  grade  on  a  track  is  far  from  being  a  disad- 
vantage, but  it  seems  to  me  the  descent  should  be  in 
the   last  part  of  the  mile. 

The  Lexington  track  has  a  heavy  grade,  the  descent 
commencing  almost  immediately  at  the  wire  and  contin- 
uing about  three-eighths  of  a  mile;  a  steep  ascent  for 
about  a  quarter  further,  then  a  descent  reaching  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  to  the  wire.  Undoubtedly  that  track  would 
be  faster,  however,  were  the  grades  somewhat  reduced. 
The  Cleveland  track  has  an  up  grade  of  about  sixteen 
inches  to  the  quarter-pole,  and  over  two  feet  from  that 
point  to  the  half-mile  pole;  a  descent  of  about  two  and 
a  half  feet  from  the  half  to  the  three-quarter  pole,  and 
from  the  latter  to  the  wire — the  remainder — something 
over  one  foot.  Whether  this  slight  grade  rests  any  set 
of  muscles  and  enables  a  horse  to  trot  faster  is  very 
doubtful  in  my  mind,  but  to  the  grade  our  worthy  Pres- 
ident1" attributes  much  of  the  excellence  of  the  track  we 
all  swear  by. 

Implements  and  Conditioning. 

The  first  requisite  to  keep  a  track  in  condition  is 
water,  and  when  the  heavens  do  not  furnish  a  sufficient 
supply  of  that  fluid  the  sprinkling  cart  must.  And  right 
here,  let  me  say,  in  order  to  have  a  fast  track  during 
race  week,  you  cannot  let  it  go  without  care  the  other 
fifty-one  weeks  in  the  year.  The  sprinkling  wagon 
should  have  wheels  with  a  tire  six  inches  wide,  to  pre- 
vent cutting  up  the  track  with  its  heavy  load.     The  holes 

*The  late  William  Edwards. 


200  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

in  the  tin  sprinkler  should  be  three  times  as  large  as 
those  of  an  ordinary  street  sprinkler ;  for  if  sprinkling  is 
necessary  at  all,  a  liberal  supply  of  water  is  required  to 
get  good  results. 

Xext  to  water  is  the  harrow,  an  implement  that  is 
both  the  life  and  death  of  a  track.  Just  how  much  har- 
rowing his  particular  track  needs  the  man  who  "bosses 
the  job"  must  know.  As  I  said  before,  every  horse  can- 
not be  trained  alike,  but  every  horse  needs  a  harness ; 
neither  can  all  tracks  be  worked  alike,  but  every  track 
needs  a  harrow.  The  proper  time  to  harrow  is  after  a 
rain  or  after  sprinkling.  Never  harrow  an  absolutely 
dry  track,  or  you  will  render  it  rotten  and  cuppy.  The 
same  evil  result  follows  too  frequent  or  too  deep  har- 
rowing, as  it  separates  and  reseparates  the  particles  of 
soil,  causing  it  to  lose  its  adhesive  properties,  and  result- 
ing in  a  dead,  rotten,  crusty  surface  that  breaks  away 
and  becomes  "cuppy"  and  "pathy."  I  am  convinced  that 
this  is  the  fault  of  conditioning  the  Buffalo  track.  A 
little  less  harrow,  and  a  little  more  of  the  scantling  "flote" 
(an  implement  they  do  not  seem  to  have)  would  material- 
ly improve  that  fast  course.  Every  track  should  have 
two  harrows,  and -at  least  one  of  them  should  be  sharp  all 
the  time;  the  duller  one  to  use  when  the  track  is  soft, 
and  the  sharper  one  when  it  is  hard.  By  frequently  chang- 
ing the  hitching  place  to  its  different  corners,  a  harrow 
will  retain  its  sharpness  a  longer  time.  The  best  harrow 
is  made  of  four  oak  planks,  two  inches  thick,  one  foot 
wide  and  about  six  feet  long,  each  bolted  through  the 
ends  to  prevent  splitting.  These  planks  are  fastened  to- 
gether, leaving  spaces  of  about  six  inches  between  them. 
Holes  should  be  bored  for  the  teeth,  four  inches  apart, 
small  enough  to  hold  them  tightly,  and  so  arranged  that 


TROTTING   TRACKS.  201 

the  teeth  will  not  follow  in  the  same  track.  The  teeth 
should  be  of  the  best  steel,  five-eighths  of  an  inch  square, 
about  seven  inches  long,  and  should  be  driven  to  an  exact 
level  of  two  inches  on  the  under  surface. 

Next,  the  harrow,  and  almost  equal  to  it  in  impor- 
tance, is  a  scantling  frame  "flote"  or  "rioter."  It  is  made 
of  "two  by  four"  pine  scantlings,  sixteen  feet  long,  set 
upon  their  edges  and  spiked  together,  making  a  frame 
sixteen  feet  square.  Between  the  front  and  rear  scant- 
lings should  be  three  others  at  regular  intervals,  to  which 
the  side  scantlings  are  also  spiked.  On  top  of  the  ones 
set  edgewise  should  be  two  others,  laid  flat,  parallel  to 
the  sides  and  spiked  to  the  under  ones.  This  is  to  make 
it  stiff.  The  implement  is  now  ready  for  use,  and  should 
be  hitched  to  slightly,  at  one  side  of  the  centre,  so  as  to 
carry  the  surplus  dirt  and  pebbles  to  the  outside.  It  is 
by  far  the  best  implement  for  keeping  a  track  smooth 
and  free  from  "waves"  that  has  ever  been  invented. 

A  Griffin  scraper  is  at  times  an  absolutely  necessary 
implement,  and  no  association  has  a  full  complement  of 
track  tools  without  it ;  but  its  frequent  use  is  rendered 
unnecessary  by  the  scantling  flote.  After  a  severe  storm, 
which  often  washes  the  loose  dirt  down  to  the  pole,  es- 
pecially on  the  turns,  it  is  necessary  to  remove  it,  and 
carry  it  out,  then  the  Griffin  machine  is  a  necessity.  Af- 
ter a  Griffin  scraper,  a  light  harrow  should  be  used,  then 
follow  with  a  scantling  flote,  and  you  will  have  a  track 
fit  to  trot  on  for  a  kingdom.  There  is  no  substitute  for 
this  flote. 

I  notice  on  some  tracks  an  implement,  intended,  I  sup- 
pose, as  a  substitute  for  the  scantling  frame,  but  which 
in  reality  is  the  worst  thing  that  can  be  used.  It  is  con- 
structed of  three  or  four  planks,  about  eight  feet  long, 


202  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

lapped  on  to  each  other  at  the  edges  lengthwise  and  nailed 
together.  It  is  hitched  to  at  the  centre  and  dragged 
around  the  track.  Simply  as  a  means  of  crushing  the 
small  lumps  of  earth  and  smoothing  the  track,  it  is,  pos- 
sibly, as  effective  as  the  scantling  flote,  but  it  does  not 
rid  the  track  of  pebbles,  for  it  rolls  right  over  them, 
whereas  the  flote  carries  them  to  the  outside  fence;  but 
the  principal  evil  is  that,  as  its  length  on  the  ground  is 
but  three  or  four  feet,  it  cannot  bridge  any  waves  made 
by  the  Griffin  scraper  or  by  small  wash-outs,  and  down 
it  goes  into  each  little  chasm,  rendering  them  deeper  and 
broader,  and,  as  an  inevitable  result,  you  soon  have  a 
wavy  track  to  make  profane  men  of  our  Christian 
drivers. 

Buildings. 

The  distance  stands  should  be  located  at  the  outside 
of  the  track.  Quarter,  half-mile,  and  three-quarter  poles 
should  be  painted  bright  red  and  stationed  at  the  proper 
places  at  the  inside  of  the  track.  On  a  direct  range  to 
them  from  the  judges'  stand,  similar  poles  should  be 
erected  on  the  outside  of  the  track  also.  Eighth-mile 
poles  are  also  a  convenience  at  times,  though  not  a  neces- 
sity. 

The  Judges'  stand  should  be  set  back  from  the  track 
about  ten  feet  and  on  a  mile  track,  about  three  hundred 
feet  from  the  turn ;  on  a  half-mile  track,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  feet.  It  should  be  on  the  inside  of  the 
track.  I  am  aware  that  this  is  a  counter  opinion  to  that 
advocated  by  many,  but  firmly  believe  it  is  the  proper 
place  for  it.  The  argument  used  against  it  is  something 
about  the  judges'  view  of  the  pole  horse  being  "f ore- 
shortened,"  whatever  that  means  in  this  connection.  If 
it  means  anything,  why  wouldn't  their  view  of  the  out- 


TROTTING   TRACKS.  203 

side  horse  be  "foreshortened"  were  the  judges  located  at 
the  outside  of  the  track?  If  a  judge  cannot  look  down 
over  two  wires  (and  there  should  be  two,  one  hung  about 
two  feet,  and  exactly  plumb  under  other)  and  tell  which 
horse  reaches  it  first,  he  has  missed  his  calling.  These 
close  finishes  are  unfortunately  so  rare  that  the  people 
are  not  educated  to  the  fact  that  no  one  standing  on  a 
level  with  the  horses,  even  though  directly  under  the  wire, 
can  tell  to  an  absolute  certainty  the  winner,  and  no  one 
stationed  at  the  slightest  angle  to  the  wire,  no  matter 
where  he  may  stand  or  sit,  can  decide  a  close  finish  or 
time  a  horse  to  a  certainty.  The  man  who  stands  over 
the  wire  in  the  judges'  stand  is  the  only  one  who  can 
decide  that,  and  to  him  the  decision  is  an  easy  matter, 
not  the  wonderful  feat  we  hear  about;  and  the  closer  the 
horses  are  to  him  the  easier  the  decision.  The  pole  horse 
is  the  one  usually  chosen  to  score  by,  and  it  is  evident 
he  can  be  better  protected  when  near  the  starter. 

Possibly  the  instantaneous  photographic  process 
might  be  used  to  advantage,  but  I  doubt  if  it  would 
change  five  decisions  in  ten  years.  Dead  heats  are  very 
infrequent,  and  generally  when  they  are  decided  dead, 
the  decision  is  based  on  some  resting  or  gaining  break 
of  the  leading  horse,  in  which  case  the  camera  would 
prove  nothing.  I  firmly  believe  that  any  man  with  two 
good  eyes — or  one  good  one,  for  that  matter — can  look 
down  over  two  wires  and  tell  which  horse  gets  there  first 
as  well  as  an  instantaneous  photograph  can.  Besides,  we 
would  be  spared  the  infliction  of  those  awful  pictures  of 
a  horse,  man  and  sulky  in  the  most  terrible,  struggling 
contortions,  suspended  in  mid-air  by  an  invisible  thread. 
Prince  Wilkes  would  commit  suicide  were  he  shown  his 
photograph  in  one  of  his  famous  finishes. 


204  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

The  starting  by  a  drum  I  like.  There  are  many  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Damphool  family  at  every  race  meet- 
ing always  ready  to  yell  "Go !"  and  frequently  causing 
false  starts;  but  every  Damphool  cannot  peddle  a  drum 
around  with  him  if  he  can  his  lusty  lungs ;  so  give  us 
the  drum. 

And  the  electric  timing  clock  is  another  "consumma- 
tion devoulty  to  be  wished." 

The  grand  stand  is  an  important  matter  for  consid- 
eration. The  pitch  of  the  seats  has  more  to  do  with  a 
good  view  than  any  other  one  thing,  and  should  be  at 
about  a  thirty  degree  angle.  The  posts  supporting  the 
roof  should  not  be  so  numerous  nor  so  large  as  to  hide 
the  view.  The  angle  at  which  a  stand  should  set  is  in- 
fluenced considerably  by  its  length.  I  think  that  stands 
should  be  set  closer  to  the  track  than  is  now  customary, 
so  that  announcements  from  the  judges  can  be  better 
heard,  and  names  and  figures  on  the  blackboard  more 
easily  discerned  by  the  spectators.  I  would  locate  its 
nearest  end  (which  should  be  the  one  towards  the  first 
turn)  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  track  fence,  and  bear 
off  at  an  angle  of  six  feet  in  every  one  hundred,  if  the 
stand  be  a  long  one.  A  short  stand  can  be  set  at  a 
greater  angle  if  desired,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  any  advan- 
tages would  be  gained  by  so  doing. 

The  stables  should  be  located  together,  and  within 
easy  call  of  the  patrol  judges.  The  cheapest  method  is 
to  build  a  series  of  barns  with  compartments  of  four 
stalls,  two  on  a  side,  facing  each  other,  in  each.  But  it 
is  open  to  serious  objection,  for  it  brings  together  the 
horses  of  different  trainers,  and  there  is  no  privacy  nor 
security.  The  horses  that  have  had  their  work,  and 
should  be  resting,  are  excited  and  annoyed  by  the  noise 


TROTTING    TRACKS.  205 

and  hub-bub  incident  to  "rubbing  out"  others,  etc.  I 
have  no  doubt  that  many  a  nervous  horse  has  lost  his 
race  by  reason  of  this  one  thing.  So  the  better  plan  is 
to  have  a  separate  box-stall  for  each  horse  by  himself. 
They  should  be  ten  feet  wide  and  sixteen  feet  deep ;  and 
four  feet  from  the  door  there  should  be  a  movable  cross- 
bar made  of  a  scantling.  The  partitions  should  be  made 
of  plank.  The  door  should  be  double,  so  the  lower  por- 
tion could  be  closed  and  the  upper  left  open  when  de- 
sired. There  should  be  a  window  at  the  rear  of  each 
stall  and  a  ventilator  in  the  roof.  (The  ventilator  can 
be  built  immediately  over  the  partition  and  do  duty  for 
two  stalls  at  once.)  The  stalls  should  be  built  in  rows 
and  have  one  loft,  partitioned  for  hay  and  straw,  for 
every  twenty  stalls,  and  a  shed  roof  should  be  built  the 
entire  front   of  the  row. 

The  Ticket  System. 

"Ah,  there's  the  rub"  and  a  matter  of  the  gravest 
consideration  to  every  track  manager.  There  should  be 
four  different  colored  single  daily  admission  tickets,  or 
a  different  color  for  each  day,  for  both  the  gate  and  grand 
stand.  The  badges  should  be  of  two  kinds,  one  for  com- 
plimentaries  and  owners  and  drivers,  the  other  a  season 
badge,  good  for  the  whole  meeting,  to  be  sold  at  reduced 
rates.  These  badges  should  have  daily  coupons  attached. 
Now  the  duty  of  the  gate-men  is  simply  to  take  up  these 
daily  admission  tickets  and  coupons  and  drop  them  into 
the  small  aperture  of  the  locked  ticket-boxes  provided 
for  that  purpose ;  yet,  simple  as  that  duty  is,  he  who  goes 
through  the  boxes  after  a  meeting,  to  count  the  tickets 
and  balance  results,  will  discover  anything  from  a  fine- 
tooth   comb   to  a   pair  of  suspenders,  which  have  been 


206  TALES   OF   THE   TURK. 

passed  and  taken  for  admission  during  a  rush.  Many  a 
five-dollar  losing  French-pool  ticket  does  duty  for  its 
buyer  at  the  gate  during  a  rush.  The  only  safe-guard 
for  making  this  swindling  a  minimum  item  is  to  employ 
intelligent  men,  and  with  intelligence  that  quality  more 
essential  and  possibly  more  rare,  honesty.  The  entire 
ticket  and  pass  system  of  any  organization  is  a  source  of 
vexation  and  susceptible  of  great  improvement.  So  here 
is  a  chance  for  some  genius  to  immortalize  himself  by 
making  it  perfect. 

Track  Hobbies. 

It  is  admitted  that  every  man,  and  especially  every 
horseman,  has  a  hobby — they  drive  their  horses,  but  ride 
their  hobbies — some  insist  that  this  particular  color  or 
that  particular  form  is  essential  to  a  good  horse,  while 
there  are  thousands  who  hold  exactly  opposite  opinions. 
Splan's  hobby  is  to  let  some  one  else  be  second ;  my  hobby 
is  a  kite-shaped  track.  I'll  give  an  instance  of  Splan's 
hobby  first,  then  have  a  say  about  the  merits  of  mine. 

I  rather  infer,  from  what  I  hear,  that  it  was  to  "do" 
the  childlike  Jack  Feek  with  his  good  mare  Kitefoot,  and . 
secure  first,  second  and  third  moneys  for  the  trinity, 
Hickok-Splan-Crawford,  with  Arab,  J.  Q.  and  Charlie 
Hilton,  that  the  combination  was  originally  conceived  and 
formed,  and  they  had  honest  "Jack-in-the-box"  that  was 
tight  and  hot,  sure  enough.  It  was  conceded  that  Arab 
could  win  all  the  races  on  his  merits,  but  Splan  quietly 
"sized  him  up"  and  at  Rochester  (August  21,  1887)  con- 
cluded that  J.  Q.  was  "about  due."  Keeping  his  own 
counsel,  he  simply  laid  the  poison  around  convenient  for 
the  nibbling  of  all  the  pool-box  rats,  including  his  part- 
ners in  the  tripartite  alliance.     Hickok  won  the  first  heat 


laajoeoi 


Fig.  9— Kite  Shaped  Mile  Track. 


208 


TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 


with  Arab,  Crawford,  with  Hilton,  was  second,  and  Splan 
"laying  up"  with  J.  Q.  The  second  heat  J.  Q.  won,  Arab 
laying  up,  but  Kitefoot  stepped  along  into  second  place. 
The  third  heat,  when  near  the  three-quarter  pole,  Hickok 
said :  ''Splan,  you  better  pull  back  now  and  let  Hilton 
be  second,  so  as  to  make  third  money  sure."  Splan 
made  no  reply,  and  J.  Q.  was  just  sailing  along  at  Arab's 
necktie.  It  was  a  strange  thing,  and  about  the  only  in- 
stance on  record,  for  Splan  to  be  silent.  Hickok,  after 
they  had  gone  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  further,  repeat- 
ed :  "I  say,  Splan,  you  better  pull  back  now  and  let 
Crawford  be  second."  Splan  found  his  voice.  "Craw- 
ford second,  eh!  Well,  I  was  just  thinking  I'd  let  you 
be  second  in  this  race,  said  Splan.  And  he  did.  But 
what  a  race  it  was — and  what  a  "killing." 

The  illustration  (fig.  9)  of  my  hobby  thoroughly  ex- 
plains itself,  and  gives  the  distances  and  detail  to  be  fol- 


Engineer's  Detail  Fig.  10— Kite  Shaped  Mile  Track.     {See  Fig.  9). 


TROTTING   TRACKS. 


209 


lowed  in  its  construction.     It  has  third  of  a  mile  stretches 
and  a   third   of  a   mile  turn.     I   claim   it  is  the   fastest 


Surveyor's  Detail  Fig.  11— Kite  Shaped  Mile  Track  (See  Fig.  9.) 

form  of  a  track,  because  there  is  but  one  turn  to  make, 
and  that  a  long  easy  one,  rendering  it  nearer  a  straight 
mile  than  can  be  secured  by  any  other  arrangement.  It 
is  capable  of  being  built  on  property  that  may  not  be 
properly  shaped  for  the  regulation  mile  track.  If  built 
on  a  rectangular  piece  of  land  it  will  give  a  large  acre- 
age that  can  be  sold  or  used  for  other  purposes,  like 
buildings,  etc.,  and  on  that  account  would  make  a  very 
desirable  form  for  large  fair  associations.  In  addition 
to  the  increase  of  speed  to  be  obtained  incident  to  mak- 
ing one  turn  instead  of  two.  every  horse  in  a  race,  except 
the  pole  horse,  would  trot  a  "shorter  mile"  than  on  the 
regulation  track.  Assuming  the  second  position  on  a 
track  to  be  six  feet  from  the  pole — and  it  is  undoubtedly 
more  than  that  distance — a  horse  in  second  position  trots 
on  a  regulation  track,  thirty-seven  and  seven-tenths  feet 
further  than  at  the  pole.   On  the  kite-shaped  track,  in  sec- 


210  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

ond  position,  he  trots  but  twenty-two  feet  further,  mak- 
ing a  saving  in  distance  of  fifteen  and  seven-tenths  feet. 
This  difference  applies  in  the  same  ratio  to  all  outside 
positions.  It  has  but  one  disadvantage  that  occurs  to 
me,  and  that  is  that  no  heat  longer  than  one  mile  could 
be  trotted  upon  it.  But  for  fast  time  at  mile  distances 
it  would  certainly  eclipse  any  other  form.  The  turn  on 
this  track,  being  longer  than  the  other  form,  need  be 
thrown  up  but  one  foot  in  twelve. 

Directions  for  Laying  Out  the  Turn  of  a   Kite- 
shaped  Track. 

Surveyor's  plan :  The  illustration  (fig.  9)  shows  dis- 
tances clearly  and  explains  itself.  See  also  detail  (fig.  11), 
which  shows  subordinates  from  sixty-six  foot  chords,  at 
one-quarter  and  one-half  their  length,  to  be  respectively 
0.84  foot  and  1.12  feet. 

Engineer's  Plan :  From  points  of  curve  deflect  an- 
gles of  2  degree  37  minutes  and  27  seconds,  and  lay  off 
chords  43.98  feet.  Ordinates  from  these  cords  (see  de- 
tail fig.  10)  at  one-quarter  and  one-half  their  length  are 
respectively  0.37  foot  and  0.50  foot. 

Amateurs  will  not  undertake  the  construction  of  this 
track,  as  there  are  angles  and  details  involved  that  re- 
quire experts  to  work  out. 

(Copyrighted  by  "The  Spirit  of  the  Times,"  and 
published  by  permission.) 


Breed  to  speed  if  you  wish  to  get  speed.    Do  not  take 
excuses  for  its  absence. 


TEMPERAMENT  OF  BROOD-MARES 


(Published  in  'Wallace's  Monthly,"  July,  1886.) 


There  is  a  matter  which  I  have  intended  writing  about 
for  a  long  time,  but  for  various  causes  have  neglected 
to  do  so  until  now.  As  I  have  watched  the  different  per- 
formers that  have  appeared  on  the  turf,  my  ideas  have 
changed  somewhat  on  the  breeding  question,  and  some 
time  I  want  to  compare  the  Wallace  theory  with  the  Fasig 
theory.  They  are  essentially  the  same,  however,  for  in 
fact  the  latter  received  its  foundation  from  the  teachings 
of  the  greatest  student  of  the  subject  in  the  world — i.  e., 
J.  H.  Wallace.     But  of  that  another  time. 

What  I  want  to  speak  of  now  is  the  disposition  of 
brood-mares.  Is  there  any  way,  without  involving  too 
much  labor,  to  get  statistics  on  this  subject  showing  the 
temperament  of  the  dams  of  the  greatest  trotters?  I 
think  it  an  essential  question  and  one  that  has  never  re- 
ceived the  consideration  due  it.  From  my  own  limited 
observation  it  seems  a  startling  fact  that  every  dam  that 
has  produced  a  fast  horse  has  been  a  very  high-strung 
mare.  In  a  small  way  I  have  studied  the  matter,  and 
have  made  inquiries  from  quite  a  good  many  sources, 
and  the  result  is  the  same  in  every  case.  Many  of  the 
mares  have  been  vicious,  even,  and  most  all  of  them  pull- 
ers and  luggers.  It  is  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to 
spoil  a  high-spirited  horse  and  make  a  lugger  or  puller  of 
him  or  make  him  vicious. 


212  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

I  have  recently  returned  from  a  trip  through  North- 
ern New  York,  where  I  had  a  talk  with  R.  White,  of 
Adams,  who  bred  Captain  Emmons,  Wizz,  Buzz,  Rufus, 
etc.  After  making  all  due  allowance  for  enthusiasm  on 
his  part,  his  old  mare  Lady  Fulton  was  a  remarkable  one. 
Her  excellence  has  never  been  half-demonstrated  by  the 
records,  if  Mr.  White  is  correct  in  his  judgment.  Dur- 
ing our  interview  he  volunteered  the  information  that 
Lady  Fulton  was  a  veritable  "bad  'un."  She  would  both 
kick  and  balk  when  she  chose,  or  would  if  she  liked  go 
all  day  without  getting  tired.  She  had  a  will  of  her  own 
but  had  no  speed.  Her  temperament  is  another  link  in 
the  chain  of  evidence  as  to  the  value  of  a  high-strung 
disposition  in  the  dams  for  successful  breeding  purposes. 
She  both  could  and  did  produce  speed  from  any  horse. 

Venus  got  a  record  of  2  130^,  I  think,  and  I  saw  her, 
after  she  was  so  crippled  and  sore  that  she  could  not 
stand  without  continually  shifting  her  feet,  go  a  mile  in 
2  \2^y2  on  a  half-mile  track.  She  was  by  Bacon's  Ethan 
Allen ;  Wizz  was  by  Roscoe ;  Buzz  was  by  Toronto  Chief, 
and  Rufus  by  Bacon's  Ethan  Allen.  I  think  these  were 
the  only  colts  out  of  her  that  obtained  records,  but  she 
was  the  dam  of  Brick  Pomeroy,  that  could  also  beat 
2  130,  and  according  to  Mr.  White,  every  one  of  her  colts 
could  have  beaten  that  mark  if  they  had  been  trained. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  here  is  a  high-strung,  vicious  mare, 
that  produced  speed  to  every  horse  that  went  to  her,  no 
matter  of  what  breeding. 

Here  at  Cleveland  every  mare  that  has  produced 
speed  has  been  of  high-strung  disposition.  The  dam  of 
Oliver  K.  was  a  lugger,  speedy  but  very  unsteady,  and 
game  for  all  day.  The  dam  of  Lettie  Watterson  was 
even  worse,  and  so  was  the  dam  of  Clingstone  a  very 


TEMPERAMENT    OF    BROOD-MARES.  213 

game,  high-strung  mare.  The  dam  of  George,  Jack  Hart, 
etc.,  was  another  of  the  same  character.  Belle  of  Lex- 
ington's dam  was  another,  and  all  of  those  that  have  pro- 
duced speed  in  or  about  this  city  have  possessed  these 
same  characteristics,  not  omitting  the  stubborn,  old,  fast 
pacer  that  produced  Frank  Ellis,  and  the  mustang  that 
produced  a  four-year-old  pony  by  Hermes  that  can  beat 
2  130,  but  with  no  record  yet.  The  dam  of  Heresy,  of 
Expectation,  of  Billy  Yazell,  and  all  the  rest  that  might 
be  mentioned  in  this  region. 

Charles  Wagner  tells  me  that  it  was  almost  worth  a 
man's  life  to  attempt  to  drive  the  dam  of  Phyllis.  W. 
H.  Crawford  tells  me  that  Mr.  Ladd  wrote  him  that  the 
dam  of  Alert  was  so  high-tempered  that  they  could  scarce- 
ly do  anything  with  her,  and  the  dam  of  Charlie  Hilton 
was  the  same.  May  Morning,  the  dam  of  Revenue,  was 
about  the  only  exception,  if  she  was  an  exception.  She 
was  fast,  level-headed,  and  prompt.  There  are  many  oth- 
ers that  have  produced  speed  of  lower  rate  than  those 
I  have  mentioned  that  I  know  were  all  mares  of  the  same 
character,  which  goes  to  show  that  will-force  has  much 
to  do  with  a  mare's  success  as  a  producer  of  fast  colts. 
Your  mind  will  at  once  grasp  the  importance  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  instances  immediately  occur  to  you  either  con- 
firming or  contradicting  the  theory. 

Xow,  why  not  try  to  trace  this  point  in  all  brood- 
mares that  have  produced  more  than  one  2  130  trotter  and 
in  all  that  have  produced  one  that  has  trotted  in  2  :20  or 
better?  I  only  offer  this  as  a  suggestion,  not  knowing 
but  what  you  have  already  considered  it  in  your  exten- 
sive study  and  research  of  facts  bearing  on  the  breeding 
and  development  of  the  trotter. 


McDOEL. 


(Published  in  "'The  American  Sportsman,"  December  4,  1890.) 


There  is  a  peculiar  fascination  in  the  history  of  a  great 
horse,  especially  one  foaled  in  obscurity  and  making  him- 
self great  by  his  own  achievements,  and  not  the  reflected 
greatness  of  a  fashionable  pedigree  or  renowned  rela- 
tionship. 

Somehow  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  frequently 
come  across  my  turf  path  when  I  thought  he  was  over- 
rated, an  out-bred  mongrel  that  was  bound  to  "stop,"  and 
as  I  have  continually  contributed  to  the  pocket  books  of 
wiser  bettors,  until  such  contributions  have  accumulated 
to  considerable  over  double  the  original  cost  of  this  chest- 
nut gelding,  and  having  seen — and  lost  on  it  as  usual — 
his  last  race  at  Lexington  against  Allerton,  I  think  I 
have  paid  well  for  my  present  opinion,  that  there  are  not 
more  than  two  horses  on  the  American  turf  that  can  beat 
McDoel  a  three-in-five  race,  and  it  is  by  no  means  cer- 
tain that  they  can. 

Having  gathered  around  the  stove  listening  to  predic- 
tions of  phantom  winners  for  next  year  and  reminiscences 
of  trotters  whose  names  are  almost  buried  in  oblivion,, 
let  me  tell  the  story  of  one  that  so  often  figured  I,  i,  i, 
in  the  summaries  of  1890,  as  I  heard  it  from  W.  A.  Mc- 
Nulty,  of  Sedalia,  Mo.  He  picked  this  horse  out  and 
bought  him  for  a  trotter,  persistently,  through  all  the 
ups  and  downs,  believed  him  to  be  a  trotter,  trained  him 


MC   DOEL.  215 

and  made  him  a  trotter,  and  finally  sold  him  for  a  trotter's 
price,  $3,150. 

W.  A.  McNulty  is  about  forty  years  of  age,  nearly 
six  feet  tall,  straight  as  an  arrow,  and  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  imigrated  to  Missouri  a  number  of  years 
ago.  locating  in  Sedalia,  and  engaged  in  the  feed  business, 
with  an  eye  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  a  good  horse  as 
a  side  issue.  It  requires  but  a  few  moments'  conversa- 
tion with  him  to  impress  you  that  here  is  a  keen,  clear- 
cut  man  of  excellent  judgment;  a  gentleman  by  nature 
and  education,  one — to  use  a  horsey  expression — who  is 
level-headed  and  can  go  the  clip  and  go  it  on  a  trot  with- 
out making  a  break. 

The  breeding  of  McDoel,  according  to  McNulty,  dif- 
fers from  that  published.  He  was  by  the  Phillips  Horse, 
not  the  Waters  Horse.  The  Phillips  Horse  was  brought 
from  Kentucky,  and  was  saddle  and  running  bred  with  a 
trotting  cross  or  two.  He  was  used  as  a  saddle  horse, 
and  sired  a  small  family  principally  saddlers,  good  look- 
ers and  good  sellers,  but  none  with  trotting  speed,  so  far 
as  known.  The  dam  of  McDoel  was  by  a  Morgan  horse, 
brought  from  Illinois  to  Sedalia.  His  get  were  all  quite 
speedy.  This  dam  Mr.  McNulty  owns.  She  is  a  brown 
mare  about  fifteen  and  a  quarter  hands,  very  smoothly 
turned,  with  a  wavy  mane  and  tail,  and  of  strongly 
marked  Morgan  conformation,  somewhat  on  the  pony  pat- 
tern, yet  withal  having  some  inexpressible  thing  about 
her  reminding  you  of  her  great  son,  but  entirely  lacking 
his  rakish  look  that  your  boyish  memory  holds  of  the 
pirate  craft  of  the  Spanish  main.  She  has  a  turn  of 
speed  herself,  and,  untrained,  can  step  below  a  three- 
minute  gait.  Her  dam  was  of  unknown  breeding,  but  of 
great  local  reputation  in  her  parts  as  an  untiring,  all-day 


216  TALES    OF   THE   TUKF. 

wear-and-tear  roadster,  still  another  one  of  the  many 
thousands  of  examples  of  "breeding  unknown  but  a  great 
roadster"  in  the  pedigree  of  renowned  performers.  That 
covers  about  all  McNulty  could  tell  me  of  McDoel's 
breeding. 

One  bright  October  morning  in  1888,  as  the  sun  was 
sinking  on  a  level  with  the  broad  prairie,  bedecked  with 
myriads  of  tinted  fall  flowers  and  the  beautiful  golden 
and  brown  of  changing  leaves  and  grasses,  the  soft  twi- 
light of  a  southwestern  autumn  evening  bringing  that 
feeling  of  contentment  and  "good  will  on  earth"  peculiar 
to  the  hour,  W.  A.  McNulty  stood  leaning  against  the 
gate  of  his  pleasant  but  unpretentious  home,  when  there 
rode  up  to  him  a  man  on  a  chestnut  gelding,  saying,  "Mr. 
Mac,  this  horse  I'm  ridin'  is  a  good  'un.  He  can  go  all 
the  saddle  gaits  and  trot  good  too.  He's  for  sale  and  as 
you  buy  and  sell  sometimes,  I  thought  I'd  ride  him 
'round." 

The  flush  of  interest  that  he  tried  so  hard  as  a  politic 
dealer  to  conceal,  did  not  escape  the  rider,  nor  the  fact 
that  it  did  not,  Mac  noticed.  It  then  immediately  be- 
came a  trading  duel  between  two  shrewd  men,  for  from 
the  moment  McNulty  first  put  eyes  on  the  horse  he  was 
impressed  with  his  greatness,  and,  strive  all  he  could  with 
his  practiced  arts,  he  could  not  hide  from  that  sharp  farm- 
er the  presentiment  that  was  on  him. 

"He's  a  right  likely  horse,  Mr.  Rhoades,  what  is  your 
price  on  him?" 

"Two  hundred,"  said  the  farmer. 

"Well,  Mr.  Rhoades,  if  he's  as  good  as  you  say  and 
hadn't  that  curb,  your  price  wouldn't  be  much  out  of  the 
road,  but  with  the  curb  he  ought  to  be  bought  for  $150." 

That  was  the  mistake  Mac  made,  slight,  but  enough 


MC  DOEL.  217 

for  the  farmer  to  take  advantage  of,  and  Mac  afterwards 
felt  like  treating  his  tongue  to  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers 
for  its  breach  of  a  trader's  strategy,  when  he  learned  that 
the  farmer  had  shown  the  horse  to  almost  every  other 
horseman  in  town  for  $135. 

"Well,  you  see,  Mr.  McNulty,  the  horse  belongs  to 
my  son,  and  I  couldn't  sell  him  nohow  to-night.  I'll  bring 
the  boy  in  Thursday  and  you  can  do  your  own  tradin' 
with  him,"  and  off  rides  Rhoades,  leaving  Mac  with  Irs 
presentiment,  leaning  on  the  gate,  his  hopes,  like  the  sun, 
going  down. 

"Well,  wife,"  says  McNulty  at  the  supper  table,  "I 
just  saw  the  best  green  horse  in  Missouri,  and  oh,  how 
I'd  like  to  own  him." 

"But  Mac,  your  stable  is  full  of  horses  now  and  the 
expense  of  keeping  them  takes  all  your  money.  I  do  hope 
you  won't  get  another." 

"Yes,  but  I  never  had  or  saw  one  like  this.  I've 
owned  from  time  to  time  a  good  many  and  never  a  real 
good  one.  I  believe  if  I  had  that  horse  I  could  sell  him 
for  $2,500  inside  a  year." 

"Mac,  you  are  crazy,  plum  crazy,  $2,500!" 

But  next  morning  McNulty  went  to  a  friend,  a  shrewd 
cattle  dealer,  with  his  story,  concluding  by  saying  he 
hadn't  the  money  on  hand  he  could  spare,  and  proposing 
that  the  friend  should  advance  the  $200,  and  they  would 
own  the  horse  in  equal  partnership.  The  story  had  its 
effect  and  Mac  went  away  with  the  money  in  his  pocket, 
and  rosy  visions  of  the  one-half  joint  ownership  in  the 
best  green  horse  in  Missouri. 

Thursday  came,  but  not  likewise  the  farmer  or  son 
or  horse.  Day  after  day  passed,  no  horse.  Nearly  two 
weeks  had  gone  by,  when  one  day  Mac  spied  his  farmer 


218  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

friend  on  the  street,  but  the  latter  immediately  dodged 
around  a  corner  with  the  too  painfully  evident  notice  of 
avoiding  a  meeting.  Things  were  getting  desperate. 
"Does  that  cuss  know  what  I  know,"  soliloquized  Mac, 
"that  he  has  the  best  green  horse  in  Missouri  ?  It  won't 
do  for  me  to  hunt  him  up,  nor  go  to  his  farm,  for  if  he 
don't  now,  he  surely  would  then,  and  it  would  be  'Kitty 
bar  the  door'  to  all  my  hopes.  Confound  a  sharp  farm- 
er, especially  the  one  who  owns  the  horse  I  want — I've  no 
use  for  him.  But  then,  the  horse,  how  in  thunder  am  I 
to  get  him?" 

Meanwhile  the  cattle  dealer  would  from  time  to  time 
ask,  "Have  you  got  him  yet?" 

The  answer  grew  more  gloomy  with  each  repetition, 
"Not  yet." 

Mac  had  a  bright  nephew  with  a  horsey  intuition,  and 
to  him  he  confided :     "Now,  Fred,  each  noon  on  coming 

home  from  school,  you  go  to  's  stable,  that's  where 

Rhoades  'ties  in,'  careless  like,  you  know,  so  no  one  will 
suspicion  your  mission,  and  look  at  each  horse  there.  If 
you  see  a  clean-cut,  rakish-looking  chestnut,  nearly  six- 
teen hands,  a  slim  tail,  ragged  hips,  stifles  standing  out 
wide  and  quarters  let  away  down,  no  white  marks,  come 
quick  and  tell  me,  see!  me,  but  no  one  else." 

Daily,  for  the  next  two  weeks,  went  Fred.  There 
were  bays  and  browns,  greys  and  blacks,  and  chestnuts 
too,  and  horses  of  every  hue  known  to  the  kind,  but  none 
that  filled  the  description  of  the  best  green  horse  in  Mis- 
souri. 

Now  matters  were  bluer  than  blue  blazes  around  Mac, 
and  visions  of  that  blood-like  chestnut  he  didn't  own 
haunted  his  sleep. 

As  a  dying  chance  he  took  a  trip  "hay  buying"  and 


MC   DOEL.  219 

landed  seventeen  miles  from  home  on  the  farm  of  the 
man  who  did  own  him.  No  one  at  home ;  no  one  at 
home  in  any  of  the  neighboring  houses.  All  gone  to  a 
"Democratic  hurrah,"  it  afterwards  transpired,  and  Mac 
returned,  telling  no  one  of  his  trip,  but  internally  anathe- 
matizing the  sharp  farmer  whom  he  was  now  convinced 
surmised  his  estimate  of  the  horse  and  shared  in  its  cor- 
rectness. 

"Mac,"  said  the  cattle  dealer  one  day,  "it  looks  like 
we  were  not  going  to  get  that  horse,  and  anyhow,  cattle 
is  my  business,  not  trotting  horses,  so  I  guess  I'll  draw 
out." 

The  $200  was  refunded  and  the  partnership  expired, 
not  perhaps  strictly  by  "mutual  consent,"  but  expired. 

From  time  to  time  Mac  got  a  glimpse  of  the  shrewd 
farmer,  when  the  dodging  tactics  were  invariably  and 
successfully  practiced. 

February  came,  and  again  one  evening  the  rakish, 
slim-tailed  chestnut  with  powerful  quarters,  was  ridden 
up  to  Mac's  house,  this  time  by  a  young  man. 

It  was  Mac's  inning  now.  He  had  lasted  longest  in  the 
game  of  bluff  of  holding  off  between  the  man  who  really 
wanted  to  sell  all  the  time  and  the  one  who  wanted,  aw- 
fully, all  the  time  to  buy. 

"I've  brought  that  horse  around,  Mr.  McXulty,"  said 
the  young  man. 

"Ah,"  says  Mac,  "let  me  see,  what  horse?" 

"Why  the  Rhoades  horse  father  talked  to  you  about 
last  fall,"  says  the  son,  a  chip  of  the  old  block,  as  he 
tranquilly  sized  up  Mac's  countenance  and  actions,  and 
shrewdly  guessing,  although  at  a  disadvantage  in  the 
situation,  that  beneath  Mac's  icy  exterior  still  burned  the 
desire  to  own  that  chestnut,  curb  and  all. 


220  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

But  Mac  was  game.  It  was  a  matter  of  professional 
pride  now.  Between  the  desire  of  owning  the  best  green 
horse  in  Missouri  and  the  dealer's  wounded  pride,  it  was 
nearly  a  dead  heat. 

"Well,  you  see,"  said  Mac,  "That  was  a  good  while 
ago,  and  though  I  like  your  horse  well  enough,  I  have 
no  particular  use  for  him  now." 

•"All  right,"  said  Rhoades,  Jr.,  as  he  half  turned  to 
go,  "But  I  thought  you  might  have  a  brood  mare  in  foal 
you  would  like  to  trade  for  this  gelding,  and  he's  a  good 
one,  that's  what  he  is." 

"Well,"  said  Mac,  "I  have  several  mares,  look  around 
in  the  stable  for  yourself  and  say  how  you  would  trade 
for  one." 

The  boy  slipped  down  from  the  horse,  looked  over 
the  stock,  quickly  picking  out  one,  the  very  best  mare 
Mac  owned,  saying  he'd  trade  for  her.  But  Mac  wouldn't 
part  with  that  one,  so  the  boy  chose  another,  the  next 
best  one.  Mac  didn't  relish  the  choice  but  the  fever  was 
on  him  again  as  old  man  Rhoades  hove  in  sight. 

"I'll  trade  for  her  and  take  $60  to  boot,"  said  the  boy. 

^ lac  was  still  game  and  really  afraid  to  accept  too 
suddenly. 

"No,  I  can't  do  that,"  said  Mac. 

"Oh,  he'll  take  $50  to  boot,"  said  Rhoades,  Sr. 

Mac  replied,  "The  mare  would  sell  for  about  as  much 
as  the  horse  in  the  market,  but  I  believe  the  horse  will 
do  me  some  good  and  I  know  you  want  the  mare,  so  I 
guess  I'll  trade." 

There  was  one  happy  man  that  February  night  West 
of  the  Mississippi  and  it  was  \Y.  A.  McNulty  of  Sedalia, 
the  proud  owner  of  the  best  green  horse  he  ever  saw. 

The  mare  had  a  short  time  previously  cost  $150,  so 


MC  DOEL  221 

"Sedalia  Boy,"  as  he  was  immediately  named,  changed 
hands  on  a  $200  basis. 

''Hold  on,  Mac,  is  that  the  hoss,"  hailed  the  cattle 
dealer  one  day.  "I  haven't  any  interest  in  him,  but  came 
near  having,  and  to  satisfy  my  curiosity,  I'd  like  to  look 
him  over  and  see  if  I'd  be  pleased  had  I  stayed  in." 

After  carefully  inspecting  the  hoss,  he  said  :  "Mac, 
I'm  going  to  be  frank  with  you.  If  you  had  bought  him 
for  us  jointly  I  should  not  have  been  satisfied,  and  while 
I  wish  you  the  best  of  luck,  I'm  afraid  you  will  never  get 
out  even  on  him."  This  was  a  damper,  but  the  cattle 
man  had  only  repeated  expressions  previously  used  by 
others  and  Mac  was  callous,  still  insisting  that  he  was 
ris:ht  in  his  estimate  of  the  horse. 

The  first  shoes  Sedalia  Boy  wore  were  factory-made 
and  cost  just  sixty  cents  for  the  four.  They  weighed 
ten  ounces  each — the  same  behind  as  before.  He  was  a 
trotter  from  the  start,  there  seemed  to  be  no  limit  to  his 
speed,  and  with  no  inclination  whatever  to  break. 

When  the  track  opened  in  the  spring  he  was  driven 
down  to  it  occasionally,  but  do  what  he  could,  McNulty 
could  not  make  Sedalia  Boy  trot  around  the  turns.  On 
the  stretches  he  would  go  swift  and  true,  but  invariably 
broke  and  galloped  around  the  turns,  getting  worse  with 
each  trial  until  he  would  not  go  even  on  a  jog,  but  would 
canter  around  them.  In  the  minds  of  all  trainers  there, 
Sedalia  Boy  was  not  worth  the  air  he  breathed  as  a  race 
horse. 

His  training  on  the  track,  which  was  a  half-mile  one, 
was  entirely  abandoned.  McNulty  was  disappointed 
and  finally  a  St.  Louis  dealer  offered  $500  for  the  horse. 

With  this  proposition  McNulty  went  to  his  wife,  who 
said  :    "Why,  I  thought  you  always  talked  $2,500." 


222  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

"Well,"  said  Mac,  "I  still  believe  he  is  the  best  green 
horse  in  Missouri  and  worth  $2,500." 

:Then  I  wouldn't  take  $500,"  retorted  the  game  lit- 
tle wife,  who  had  become  fond  of  the  rakish  looking 
chestnut. 

As  a  final  measure  McNulty  said :  "I'll  do  one  of 
two  things,  I'll  either  take  the  $500  now,  or  if  you  will 
agree,  in  case  of  my  failure,  never  to  allude  to  the  subject, 
and  my  son  will  consent  to  run  the  business  during  his 
vacation,  thereby  working  at  a  time  he  should  have  his 
recreation,  so  I  can  give  myself  and  the  horse  a  fair 
chance,  I'll  systematically  train  him,  and  try  and  make 
Sedalia  Boy  bring  $2,500,"  which  in  his  circumstances 
was  a  large  amount. 

The  compact  was  ratified.  Sedalia  Boy  started  soon 
afterwards  in  a  race,  but  was  "shut  out"  the  first  heat  in 
2:41.  He  started  again,  and  was  distanced,  but  Mc- 
Nulty still  believed  he  owned  the  best  horse  in  Missouri. 
It  is  safe  to  say  he  was  the  only  one  on  earth  at  that  time 
who  did  believe  it. 

The  next  race  the  horse  got  second  money,  McNulty 
happily  and  accidental}'  discovering  that  by  taking  a 
strong  hold  of  him  and  clucking  to  him  at  every  stride  he 
would  go  the  turns  without  breaking.  He  also  discov- 
ered that  the  horse  had  been  brushing  his  arms,  and  prop- 
erly protected  them.  Then  Sedalia  Boy  at  once  awakened 
to  the  fact  that  he  was  a  race  horse,  and  probably  the  best 
green  one  in  Missouri,  as  he  flashed  like  a  meteor  across 
the  trotting  sky. 

He  trotted  several  races,  and  his  winnnigs  enabled 
McNulty  to  buy  his  dam  for  $140,  a  loan  of  which  had 
been  denied  him  by  a  relative,  because  it  was  wanted  for 
that  purpose.     He  then  went  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and 


MC  DOEL.  223 

there  gave  the  horse  a  record  of  2  -.26 j4,  and  sold  him  to 
genial  Jim  Ogleby,  of  that  place,  for  $3,150.  His  subse- 
quent races  have  been  an  almost  unbroken  chain  of  victor- 
ies, and  a  matter  of  turf  history.  That  is  the  story  of 
McDoel,  2:15*4,  the  horse  that  defeated  Allerton  in  the 
Transvlvania  of  1890. 


Don't  let  us  loose  sight  of  stamina  and  quality  in  our 
wild  scramble  for  speed.  , 

The  best  method  of  training  yearlings,  in  my  opinion, 
is  to  let  them  train  themselves  in  the  pasture  fields.  If, 
however,  you  insist  on  having  a  hand  in  the  training,  get 
Marvin's  book,  and  follow  instructions. 

Eliminate  the  luck  element  as  far  as  it  can  possibly  be 
done,  and  let  the  race  go  to  the  best  horse  as  often  as 
possible — the  horse  that  can  stay  the  best,  act  the  best  and 
fight  out  the  best  race,  rather  than  to  a  flashy,  speedy  one 
that  must  win,  if  at  all,  in  short  order. 

There  is  only  one  really  good  sire  in  every  ten  thous- 
and stallions,  and  there  is  also  a  very  small  percentage  of 
horses  that  are  successful  turf  horses.  Now,  then,  the 
combination  of  a  successful  sire  and  a  successful  trotter  in 
any  one  horse  must  be  an  extremely  rare  one,  and  that  is 
all  there  is  to  the  theory  that  developed  horses  have  not 
been  successful  sires. 


A   STRANGE   LAND. 


(^Published  in  "The  American  Sportsman,"  January  15,  1891. > 


On  December  6,  1891,  there  was  found  by  a  party  of 
oyster  fishers  near  Norfolk,  Va.,  a  floating  bottle-shaped 
concern,  corked  and  sealed,  containing  a  strange  story  of 
a  strange  land,  the  attention  of  which  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  brought  to  scientists,  or  at  all  events,  it  has  not 
received  the  consideration  its  importance  deserves.  On 
the  bottle  is  blown  some  strange  hieroglyphics,  which 
gi*es  color  to  the  strange  story  of  its  contents,  which  fol- 
lows : 

"I've  been  here,  I  cannot  say  just  how  long,  for  as  my 
story,  which  follows,  will  explain,  I  have  to  a  certain 
extent  lost  the  reckoning  of  time,  but  it  must  be  some 
three  years.  The  date  I  last  remember  is  August  16, 
1883.  The  causes  which  led  to  this  loss  of  reckoning  has 
also  left  my  memory  of  names,  my  own  among  them, 
blank.  I  cannot  therefore  name  any  of  my  friends,  but 
places  and  dates  prior  to  my  misfortune  are  vivid  in  my 
memory. 

"I  was  born  near  the  town  of  Ashland,  State  of  Ohio, 
United  States  of  America,  and  while  a  student  of  nearly 
sixteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  the  army,  Company  H, 
Forty-second  Ohio  Regiment  of  Infantry.  My  Captain 
was  the  principal  of  the  school  from  which  I  enlisted ;  my 
Colonel  was  a  renowned  man,  who  was  afterwards  elected 
President    and    was    assassinated.      As    a    boy    I    was 


A    STRANGE    LAND.  225 

"horsey,"  and  on  receiving  my  discharge  from  the  army  I 
gave  bent  to  my  inclinations  and  engaged  in  the  business. 
I  owned  several  horses  with  some  speed  with  which  I 
won  a  considerable  amount  of  money  by  trotting  at  the 
fairs  each  fall,  investing  it  in  horseflesh,  until  in  Decem- 
ber, 1 88 1,  having  heard  of  the  interest  in  the  American 
trotter  in  foreign  countries,  I  decided  on  taking  my  stable 
to  England.  I  there  found  a  ready  market  for  the  horses, 
selling  them  all  at  fair  prices.  Thinking  there  might  be 
money  in  buying  a  few  Russian  trotters  and  taking  them 
to  my  country,  I  determined  on  going  there.  Arriving  in 
St.  Petersburg  in  June  following,  I  was  the  day  after  ar- 
rested, charged  with  a  political  conspiracy.  Having  no 
friends,  knowing  nothing  of  their  language,  and  relying 
upon  my  innocence,  I  did  not  realize  any  danger  until  I 
was  convicted  and  sentenced.  A  few  days  subsequent  I 
was  bundled  into  a  railway  car  with  a  lot  of  other  pris- 
oners and  started  for  Siberia. 

"Oh,  the  unutterable  horror  of  that  journey.  God 
spare  any  living  being,  no  matter  what  his  crime,  from 
that  awful  misery.  I  tried,  by  remembering  I  was  an 
American,  to  be  game,  but  my  heart  failed  me,  and  I 
look  back  on  the  terrors  of  that  dreadful  journey  with  a 
shudder. 

"After  many  months  of  traveling  through  a  desolate 
waste  of  country,  from  one  exile  station  to  another,  we  at 
last  arrived  at  our  destination,  the  mines  of  Siberia. 

"The  one  ruling,  never  absent  thought  of  the  Siberian 
exile,  is  escape.  He  thinks  of  it  by  day,  and  dreams  of  it 
by  night.  There  were  three  Russians  who  understood 
and  spoke  English,  with  whom  I  formed  acquaintances, 
and  we  were  not  long  in  planning  our  escape.  Day  by 
day  we  accumulated  things  that  would  net  be  missed  by 


226  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

our  guards,  and  arranged  details,  till  at  last  the  favored 
moment  came.  We  started,  not  in  the  return  direction, 
but  North;  one  of  the  Russians  having  friends  further  on 
at  one  of  the  extreme  outposts  of  Siberia,  in  Government 
employ. 

"I  will  not  attempt  a  description  of  our  travels ;  first 
one  of  my  companions  died,  then  another,  leaving  but  one 
Russian  and  myself.  We  were  aided  by  the  natives,  and 
lived  in  their  villages  many  months,  travelling  from  one 
place  to  another  whenever  we  could  obtain  a  guide,  with 
no  set  purpose,  but  a  nameless  phantom  hope  that  some- 
thing would  occur  in  our  favor. 

"We  heard  rumors  that  led  us  to  believe  that  an  Arc- 
tic expedition  was  in  the  region.  Then  my  last  compan- 
ion died,  and  I  was  left  alone.  Alone !  If  this  story  is 
ever  found,  I  ask  the  reader  if  he  knows  what  that  word 
'alone'  means? 

"Somehow  I  noticed  that  the  weather  was  getting 
warmer,  and  I  attributed  it  to  the  change  of  season.  One 
day  I  found  a  strange  craft  frozen  in  an  ice  floe.  It  was 
of  the  yawl  order,  but  very  large,  nearly  a  yacht  in  size. 
By  hard  work  I  manage  to  get  it  loose  from  the  ice,  and 
to  store  what  few  provisions  I  had  in  it,  and  set  it  afloat 
was  my  next  move.  A  rapid  current  carried  me  along 
for,  I  cannot  tell  how  long.  I  knew  not  in  what  direction, 
but  I  fairly  flew,  and  day  by  day  it  became  warmer. 

"That's  all  I  can  tell !  whether  I  went  to  sleep,  or  sank 
into  an  exhausted  faint  I  cannot  say.  The  next  thing  I 
know  I  opened  my  eyes  in  a  hospital  with  all  the  com- 
forts imaginable.  The  people  looked  like  the  people  in 
the  United  States,  dressed  much  like  them,  but  had  the 
strangest  language  ever  heard  by  man.  I  was,  as  might 
be  expected,  looked  upon  as  a  curiosity,  but  I  could  see 


A    STRANGE    LAND.  227 

the  joy  of  my  coming  back  to  reason  depicted  in  their 
looks  and  actions.  I  had  the  very  best  care  and  nursing, 
and  any  number  of  visitors  calling  to  see  me.  Of  course, 
I  could  only  greet  them  by  shaking  hands,  and  thank 
them  with  my  eyes  for  their  kindness. 

"Daily  I  became  stronger,  and  was  at  last  convales- 
cent, and  allowed  to  be  outdoors.  The  weather  was  de- 
lightful, and  everything  gave  token  of  a  very  old  coun- 
try, wealth  and  refinement.  The  people  were  such  as 
might  be  seen  in  New  York  City,  without  indication  of 
poverty  in  any  respect.  They  all  dressed  well,  were  very 
cheerful,  pleasant  and  cordial.  The  trades  and  arts  were 
about  as  in  my  country,  but  in  many  respects,  especially 
mechanics,  my  land  was  far  away  behind  them.  In  some 
particulars  they  were  away  behind  Americans.  Of  course 
my  first  thought  was  horse,  and  what  horses ;  perfect  in 
every  respect,  apparently  not  an  unsound  one  in  the 
nation.  They  were  about  the  size  of  the  American  trot- 
ters, but  averaging  larger,  scarcely  any  smaller  than  fif- 
teen and  three-quarter  hands,  and  few  over  sixteen  hands. 
Imagine  the  most  blood-like  horse  your  conception  can 
picture,  with  bone  like  ivory,  good  substance,  but  nothing 
gross,  clean  cut  necks,  the  most  beautiful  heads,  eyes  and 
ears  that  mortal  men  ever  saw,  and  your  most  vivid  imag- 
ination will  fall  short  of  their  beauty  and  spirit,  coupled 
with  kindness  and  intelligence. 

"Every  man,  woman  and  child  is  a  horse  lover.  But 
the  vehicles !  Holy  Sailor,  the  vehicles  and  harness ! 
Everything  is  on  two  wheels.  The  racing  cart  is  a  coun- 
terpart of  the  low,  heavy  'Roman  chariots'  that  were  used 
in  America  for  exhibitions  by  female  'chariot  riders'  and 
weigh  not  less  than  three  hundred  pounds.  The  driver 
stands  up  in  racing.    The  harness  is  five  times  the  weight 


228  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

necessary  for  any  purpose,  a  coupe  harness  being  lighter. 
They  have  collar  and  names,  the  latter  standing  high 
above  the  collar  and  ornamented  with  pure  gold  at  the 
tops  and  with  tassels  and  gay  ribbons.  Even-one  is  a 
race-goer.  The  horses  never  make  a  break  and  have  only 
two  gaits,  walk  and  trot.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  an 
interfering  boot  of  any  description,  nor  a  toe-weight,  and 
none  is  needed.  All  the  horses  are  clean-gaited,  smooth 
and  frictionless,  and  they  can  fairly  fly.  Watches  are 
used  verv  similar  to  mv  own,  but  time  is  divided  differ- 
ently.  In  all  my  travels  I  stuck  to  my  fly-back  watch,  and 
it  has  been  examined  and  admired  by  many  jewelers  here. 
The  horses  trot  heats  on  straight-away  courses.  I  have 
no  means  of  telling  exactly  the  distance,  but  have  meas- 
ured several  of  the  courses  the  best  I  can,  which  of  course 
is  partly  a  guess,  and  as  near  as  I  can  figure  it  they  are 
five  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  certainly 
longer  than  American  tracks.  The  meetings  are  man- 
aged practically  as  the  American  meetings  are,  horses 
being  divided  into  classes  according  to  records,  which  they 
keep  with  great  accuracy ;  scoring  the  same,  or  rather  not 
the  same,  for  the  drivers  try  to  get  off.  Now,  I'm  going 
to  tell  something  that  will  prove  how  far  they  are  ahead 
of  American  people  in  mechanics.  The  judges  occupy  a 
small  portion  of  the  middle  of  the  grand  stand,  which  is 
two  stories  in  height  and  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  long.  Immediately  on  the  start  being  given  the  grand 
stand  starts  also  and  keeps  up  with  the  leading  horse,  no 
matter  at  what  speed,  as  that  is  under  the  control  of  the 
engineer.  Every  inch  of  the  race  is  therefore  under  im- 
mediate observation.  Think  of  it,  an  immense  structure 
with  probably  twenty  thousand  people  flying  along  a  race 
track  at  better  than  a  two-minute  gait,  and  that  means 


A    STRANGE    LAND.  229 

about  five  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  as  near 
as  I  can  reckon  it.  The  fastest  heat  I  have  yet  timed  in  a 
race  is  I  47^4,  but  by  motions  I  am  told  this  is  some 
slower  than  the  fastest  on  record,  and  the  mare  which  I 
tell  about  further  showed  me  a  trial  of  i  44^.  I  can't 
for  the  life  of  me  comprehend  their  division  of  time.  The 
records  show  about  twenty  figure  characters  for  each  heat 
trotted.  Horses  are  allowed  about  twenty  minutes  to  cool 
out  in.  There  are  no  bandages,  blankets  or  liniments  of 
any  kind  in  use.  The  festive  rubbing  cloth  is  wielded  the 
same  as  in  America,  but  the  people  using  it  are  dressed 
fit  for  church.  The  drivers  and  horse  attendants  are  the 
elite  of  the  land,  very  gentlemanly  and  cultivated  men, 
the  profession  ranking  the  same  as  the  ministerial  one  in 
America.  Drivers  are  not  adverse  to  helping  in  "rubbing 
out,"  and,  differing  from  the  American  reinsmen,  are 
always  with  their  horses.  They  drive  to  win,  that  is  evi- 
dent. There  is  never^any  back  talk  to  the  judges;  no 
trickery,  but  good,  honest  racing.  A  driver  here  who 
would  'foul'  another  or  resort  to  any  questionable 
methods,  there  is  no  telling  what  would  be  done  with 
him.  At  the  conclusion  of  a  heat  in  one  race,  the  horses 
for  another  are  ready.  The  grand  stand  goes  back  to 
the  starting  point  and  the  races  progress  until  all  are 
finished,  there  generally  being  three  on  the  card  for  each 
day. 

"I  had  been  to  two  or  three  meetings  in  different  cities 
in  company  with  a  gentleman  who  had  taken  a  fancy  to 
me,  and  who  owned  a  beautiful  mare,  but  of  a  more  deli- 
cate order  than  the  majority  of  the  horses.  She  could 
speed  like  a  railway,  but  it  did  not  take  long  for  me  to 
see  that  she  was  handicapped  by  the  weight  behind  her,  so 
I  set  about  trying  to  make  my  patron  understand  the  mat- 


230  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

ter.  It  was  impossible,  but  I  got  him  to  go  to  the  harness 
shop  with  me,  and  by  gestures  I  made  him  understand 
that.  I  wanted  him  to  order  a  harness  built  under  my  direc- 
tion. By  dint  of  many  a  gesture,  and  no  end  of  trouble, 
I  finally  got  the  workman  to  turn  out  a  beauty,  as  hand- 
some as  any  in  America,  for  they  are  splendid  workmen  in 
every  branch  of  mechanics.  I  made  my  friend  under- 
stand that  we  must  keep  the  matter  a  secret.  He  was 
about  wild  with  pride  over  the  beautiful  harness  when  I 
fitted  it  to  his  handsome  mare,  and  she  shared  in  his  en- 
thusiasm, but  the  mechanic  shook  his  head,  evidently 
thinking  the  thing  too  fragile  for  any  purpose. 

"We  then  went  to  the  wagon-maker's.  Being  quite  a 
draftsman,  I  drew  as  complete  as  I  could,  a  truss-axle 
sulky,  and  set  the  wagon-maker  at  it.  I  had  fairly  to 
stand  over  him  with  an  axe  to  get  him  to  make  it  light 
enough,  but  finally  succeeded,  and  when  completed, 
painted  a  bright  carmine,  it,  too,  was  a  beauty.  The  de- 
light of  my  patron,  when  I  harnessed  the  mare  and  hitched 
her  to  the  sulky,  was  unbounded,  but  the  wagon-maker, 
like  the  harness-maker,  shook  his  head,  and  sneered  at 
the  idea  of  its  being  of  any  service.  I  doubt  if  there  was 
a  man  in  the  country  who  would  have  risked  his  neck  in 
that  frail  sulky  behind  that  mare,  harnessed,  as  it  looked 
to  them,  by  a  cobweb. 

"Betting  is  a  ruling  passion  with  the  people.  It  is 
done  on  the  same  plan  as  in  America,  by  auction  pools, 
and  the  bettors  give  their  I.  O.  U's  in  the  pool  box,  the 
pool  seller  giving  his  own  to  the  winners.  It  is  like  a 
clearing  house  system,  and  everything  is  done  on  honor. 
I  determined  to  drive  the  first  race  myself,  to  show  my 
patron  that  the  spider-like  vehicle  and  cobweb  harness 
would  hold  together  and  that  the  mare  could  win  with  it. 


A    STRANGE    LAND.  231 

One  moonlight  night  we  went  to  the  track  and  gave  her 
an  easy  trial,  timing  myself  with  my  watch  and  he  timing 
with  his  in  I  44^.  I  could  have  driven  her  faster,  but 
that  was  fast  enough.  Barring  the  engineer,  who  ran  the 
grand  stand  and  who  was  tipped  with  a  handful  of  gold 
coin  for  secrecy,  I  suppose,  by  my  patron,  no  one  but  our- 
selves knew  of  this  trial.  It  was,  I  was  led  to  understand, 
something  below  their  'fastest  on  record.'  The  day  of  the 
race  came,  but  in  the  interval  my  friend  had  backed  the 
mare  right  and  left.  People  came  from  adjoining  cities 
to  get  a  whack  at  him,  and  it  was  painfully  evident  that 
many  of  his  friends  believed  him  to  be  insane.  The  ex- 
citement was  intense.  It  leaked  out  through  the  harness 
and  wagon-makers,  probably,  although  they  were  sworn 
to  secrecy,  that  the  mare  was  to  be  differently  rigged  than 
any  horse  was  ever  before  and  that  I  was  to  drive  her. 
Of  course  I  was  the  center  of  attraction,  on  account  of  my 
strange  advent  in  their  country  and  my  mysterious  ways. 
They  were  respectful  and  kind  to  me,  though,  and  I  don't 
imagine  for  a  moment  that  any  of  them  thought  I  was 
an  imp  from  the  infernal  regions,  as  they  would,  under 
similar  circumstances,  in  America.  The  newspapers  her- 
alded the  event.  The  country  was  wild  with  excitement. 
I  was  followed  by  large  crowds  whenever  I  appeared  on 
the  streets,  but  never  molested,  nor  an  unkind  demonstra- 
tion of  any  nature  offered.  Things  were  at  fever  heat, 
and  the  suspense  had  become  awful,  still  my  friend 
gamely  putting  up  his  I.  O.  U's.  I  tried  to  caution  him, 
but  he  was  dead  game ;  the  issue  had  become  a  matter  of 
pride  and  honor,  and  he  wouldn't  back  down.  He  became 
somewhat  nervous  and  haggard  from  the  fearful  strain, 
but  to  me  was  always  the  same  kind,  courteous  gentle- 
man, seeming  to  have  a  great  affection  for  me.    He  was  a 


232  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

splendid  looking  man  about  fifty-five  years,  I  should 
judge  in  our  way  of  reckoning  ages,  and  must  have  been 
one  of  the  richest  men  in  the  country.  He  certainly  was 
one  of  the  best  known  and  one  of  the  most  prominent. 

"There  were  eight  to  start,  and  the  grand  stand  was 
packed,  people  hanging  on  to  the  posts,  covering  the  roof, 
and  lining  the  track  on  the  opposite  side  its  entire  length. 
There  could  not  have  been  less  than  thirty  thousand  spec- 
tators. When  I  appeared  behind  the  mare  there  was  a 
hush,  an  awful  silence,  then  such  a  cheering  as  was  never 
heard  before,  and  I  never  again  want  to  hear  the  like.  I 
was  nervous  and  scared,  but  tried  to  appear  at  ease.  My 
patron  patted  me  on  the  back  and  seemed  'happy  as  a 
clam  at  high  tide.'  I  drew  fifth  place  and  we  scored  twice 
before  getting  the  word.  My  mare,  being  eager,  would 
come  up  ahead,  in  spite  of  all  my  efforts,  and  it  was  plain 
then  to  me  that  I  could  win  easily.  By  gestures,  I  told 
the  judges  I  would  turn  behind  the  others  and  the  starter 
could  send  us  off  on  the  next  score  without  particular 
reference  to  me.  I  had  nearly  caught  them,  but  was  a  lit- 
tle behind  when  the  word  was  given.  I  closed  the  gap 
readily,  and  was  about  to  take  my  position  when  the  left 
wheel  of  the  chariot  next  to  me  came  off,  letting  down 
the  axle  on  my  side  to  the  ground  and  throwing  the  horse 
immediately  in  front  of  the  mare,  breaking  his  neck.  She 
stepped  on  him  and  pitched  forward  on  her  nose,  sliding 
quite  a  distance.  The  sulky,  running  over  the  horse,  was 
thrown  over  the  mare,  and  I  went  clear  over  her  head 
also,  stunned  and  dizzy,  but  not  unconscious.  Jumping 
to  my  feet,  I  caught  her  by  the  bridle,  threw  the  sulky 
back,  the  driver  of  the  other  horse  assisting  me,  and  with- 
out waiting  to  see  whether  anything  was  broken,  jumped 
on  the  sulky  and  started  after  the  flying  field.     I  went  a 


A    STRANGE    LAND.  233 

merry  clip,  the  immense  throng  yelling  themselves  wild, 
and  I  was  about  crazy  myself  with  excitement.  Ten 
thousand  things  flashed  through  my  mind.  I  knew  there 
was  a  distance  flag  in  their  races,  but  whether  there  was  a 
saving  clause  in  their  rules  for  an  'unavoidable  accident' 
I  did  not  know.  I  thought  of  the  immense  sum  wagered 
by  my  friend,  and  I  drove  with  blind  desperation,  the 
mare  seeming  to  share  in  the  feeling.  She  flew  on,  on, 
closer  and  closer  we  came,  and  were  about  three  lengths 
inside  the  flag  when  the  pistol  announcing  the  finish  of 
the  heat  was  fired.  It  took  a  strong  force  of  police  to 
keep  the  crowd,  now  frenzied  with  excitement,  from 
trampling  the  mare  and  myself  under  foot.  At  last  the 
excitement  subsided,  and  the  next  heat  started,  which  I 
won,  carrying  my  watch  in  my  hand,  with  ridiculous  ease 
in  i  :$21/{-  I  also  won  the  succeeding  two  heats  in  I  \X7V\ 
and  i  483^,  which  I  was  given  to  understand  was  the 
fastest  three  heats  on  record,  although  for  a  single  mile 
the  record  was  some  faster.  My  patron,  alive  to  business 
in  my  behalf,  immediately  patented  the  harness  and  sulky, 
and  I  have  since  received  a  royalty  on  every  one  built. 
They  are  universally  adopted  now.  My  share  of  my  pat- 
ron's winnings,  which  he  divided  equally  between  us,  is 
an  enormous  amount,  just  how  much  in  dollars  and  cents, 
I.  of  course,  cannot  state,  but  my  bank  account  is  all 
right,  and  my  I.  O.  U.  is  good  for  a  fabulous  sum. 

"I  have  written  over  one  hundred  of  these  letters,  and 
set  them  all  afloat  with  the  hope  that  one  of  them  may  fall 
into  the  hands  of  some  one  in  my  country,  and  eventually 
reach  my  relatives.  If  so,  they  will  know  I  am  alive  and 
well,  but  dead  to  them,  and  they  to  me.  But  life  here  is 
the  same  as  life  in  America.  It  comes  to  an  end.  The 
same  Supreme  Ruler  is  over  us,  and  my  hardships  and 


234  TALKS   OF  THE   TURF. 

strange  history  have  led  me  to  surrender  Him  that  fealty 
which,  when  my  days  are  numbered,  will  insure  a  home 
where  I  hope  we  will  be  again  united. 

"Symmes  died  ridiculed  by  scientists,  and  'Symmes* 
Hole'  is  a  fruitful  subject  to  this  day,  to  them  in  my  land 
for  derision,  yet  this  land  is  a  reality,  and  I'm  sure  I  now 
live  in  it.  My  theory  is  that  a  branch  of  the  Gulf  Stream 
carried  me  here.  If  it  will  only  carry  this  bottle  back  to 
my  friends  I  shall  be  satisfied." 

(Captain  John  Cleve  Symmes  was  a  visionary  Ameri- 
can theorizer,  who  died  in  1829.  He  always  contended 
that  the  Gulf  Stream,  after  leaving  the  temperate  zone, 
entered  the  Arctic  Circle  by  an  unknown  channel  and 
made  a  circuit  of  the  North  Pole,  when  it  disappeared, 
passing  through  the  center  of  the  earth,  which  was,  ac- 
cording to  him,  inhabited  by  men  whose  habits  and  cus- 
toms were  very  similar  to  the  Anglo-Saxons,  and  which 
was  lighted  by  two  small  sublunarian  planets  named 
Pluto  and  Prosperina.  Captain  Symmes  publicly  invited 
Humboldt  and  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  to  explore  the  under 
world.  While  neither  of  them  accepted  the  invitation, 
they  looked  into  the  matter  sufficiently  to  learn  that  the 
celebrated  astronomer  Halley,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  and  the  learned  Norwegian  satirist 
and  dramatist,  Holberg,  in  the  eighteenth  century,  had  the 
same  fantastic  notion.  Those  who  ridiculed  Captain 
Symmes  referred  to  his  pet  theory  as  "Symmes'  Hole," 
the  latter  being  supposed  to  represent  the  whirlpool  at  the 
North  Pole,  where  the  Gulf  Stream,  after  dodging  among 
the  icebergs  and  floes,  sank  into  the  center  of  the  earth  to 
warm  the  inhabitants  of  the  great  unknown  land,  appear- 
ing again  near  the  equator,  the  warmer  water  gradually 
coming  to  the  surface  through  the  craters  of  submerged 
volcanoes. — Ed. ) 


THE   SANDPIPER. 


(Published  in  "The  Horse  Review,"  December  19,  1891.) 


'The  Sandpiper"  was  the  nickname  of  a  shifty,  fore- 
handed, jolly  citizen  of  Cleveland,  of  Teutonic  pedigree, 
because  he  got  rich  gathering  the  sand  by  the  lake  and 
selling  it  by  the  load.  He  would  sell  a  yard  of  sand,  and 
with  the  profits  buy  another  rod  of  beach,  thus  adding  to 
his  worldly  possessions,  till  at  last  he  bought  a  trotter,  a 
good-looking  bay  mare  of  Hiatoga  breeding.  She  im- 
proved quite  rapidly  on  the  road,  and  to  say  she  was  not 
short  of  work  at  any  angle  of  the  game  is  drawing  it  mild, 
for  the  Dutchman  would  give  anybody  and  everybody  he 
came  across  a  race.  In  sleighing  season  "The  Sandpiper" 
was  the  first  driver  on  the  path  every  day  and  the  last  one 
to  leave. 

It  was  Sunday,  that  day  of  rest  to  all  men  except  a 
Secretary.  The  light  had  faded  down  into  twilight  and 
the  shadows  deepened  in  the  gloaming.  The  next  day  the 
entries  closed,  and  I  was  about  taking  the  car  in  front  of 
my  office  for  the  depot,  to  make  the  train  for  Wheeling, 
where  a  fair  was  in  progress.  I  intended  the  next  day 
doing  missionary  work  in  preaching  to  the  benighted  trot- 
ting men  the  merits  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  from  a  racing 
standpoint;  convincing  them  that  they  had  first  money 
already  won,  and  it  only  needed  the  formality  of  applying 
for  it  in  person,  when  along  drove  'The  Sandpiper"  be- 
hind the  bav  mare. 


236  TALKS   OF   THE   TURF. 

"You  yust  ou't  to  see  me  beating  dat  Euclid  Avenue 
fellar  wot's  got  dot  gray  mare.  Dot  was  the  sickest  fel- 
lar  you  saw  in  a  long  time.  Oh,  I  yust  done  'em  as  I 
come  to  them,"  says  'The  Sandpiper." 

"I  believe  you  do,  and  you've  got  a  trotter  there,  sure 
enough.  Why  don't  you  enter  her  for  the  races  next 
week?  She'd  give  them  all  a  race,  and  you  would  have 
more  fun  in  one  day  than  you  have  now  in  six  months. 
I'll  get  some  one  to  drive  her  for  you." 

The  mare  had  never  been  hitched  to  a  sulky  in  her  life, 
and  the  Dutchman,  I  thought,  would  need  a  stepladder  to 
get  into  one.  It  required  considerable  gall  to  ask  for  the 
entry,  but  even  a  Secretary  had  not  sufficient  of  that 
commodity  to  suggest  the  propriety  of  the  owner's  driv- 


ing. 


'Well,  by  ginger,  I  never  thought  of  that  before.  Say, 
if  I  enter  her,  may  I  drive  in  the  race  ?" 

"Certainly,  you  can." 

"Den  I  enter  her,  and  here  was  the  cash." 

In  the  sleeping  car  that  night  visions  of  The  Sand- 
piper" and  his  bay  mare  haunted  my  dreams.  I  felt  like  a 
pickpocket  after  a  successful  raid.  It  was  just  stealing 
the  Dutchman's  money,  and  I  blushed  a  Secretary's  blush. 
My  sympathy  evaporated  though  when  I  thought  of  that 
bill  he  brought  against  the  driving  park  the  spring  before 
for  the  gravel  furnished  for  its  driveways ;  and  I  went  tc 
sleep  with  sweet  but  unchristian  thought  of  getting  even 
with  that  Dutchman  just  once. 

I  worked  hard  at  the  Wheeling  fair  grounds  all  the 
next  day.  I  had  passed  and  repassed  many  times  a  small. 
elderlv  man  sitting  on  a  wooden  trunk  in  front  of  a  stall, 
and  had  even  handed  him  a  programme  and  entry  blank, 
which  he  silently  took — and  still  continued  sitting  on  that 


THE    SANDPIPER.  237 

trunk  all  day  long.  Ordinarily  a  Secretary  can  ''spot"  a 
man  who  has  an  entry  like  a  three-card  monte  man  can 
spot  a  "sucker,"  but  sometimes  both  get  left,  and  this  was 
one  of  the  times,  for  it  never  occurred  to  me  that  that 
little  man  wearing  a  nankeen  shirt  and  a  silent,  far-away, 
weary  expression,  could  possibly  have  adopted  the  happy- 
go-lucky  life  of  a  trotting  horseman. 

It  was  late ;  I  had  had  my  last  argument  with  a  stub- 
born man  who  had  several  entries,  and  had  started  for 
the  hotel.  I  was  passing  the  silent  little  man,  still  sitting 
on  the  wooden  trunk,  when  he  touched  me  on  the  arm, 
and — (almost  in  a  whisper,  his  lips  scarcely  parting  or 
making  a  movement) — asked:  "Are  you  the  Cleveland 
Secretary?" 

"I  am,"  said  I. 

"I  want  to  talk  with  you  quietly,"  confidentially  whis- 
pered the  little  man,  and  he  led  me  into  an  empty  stall, 
carefully  shutting  the  door  behind  us.  "I've  got  some- 
thing good,"  said  he,  and  I  looked  around  for  the  bottle. 
"Something  that  can  win  sure,  and  I  want  some  one  to 
help  me  make  good  money.  I  want  to  make  a  killing." 
For  the  first  time  it  dawned  upon  me  that  the  little  silent 
man  was  not  a  spring  chicken,  but  one  who  did  not  stand 
much  in  need  of  a  guardian  at  any  stage  of  the  proceed- 
ings, and  negotiations  opened  then  and  there  on  a  better 
understood  basis,  ending  with  my  having  the  entry  of  a 
little  brown  mare  duly  signed  and  executed  bv  the  little, 
dark-complexioned,  whispering  old  man. 

It  was  in  the  2  40  trot ;  the  mare  was  Kit  Curry  and 
the  blank  was  signed  H.  D.  Kyger,  Darrtown,  Ohio. 

"The  Sandpiper's"  mare  was  also  in  the  2  40  trot ;  her 
entrance  was  paid,  and  I  hugged  myself  in  ecstacy.  Now 
I  would  even  up  that  charge  for  the  gravel. 


238  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

The  day  of  the  race  came.  A  syndicate  had  been 
formed.  I  was  the  President  and  sole  manager  of  the 
race,  with  autocratic  powers  of  changing  drivers  or  doing 
anything  which  in  any  emergency  it  appeared  to  me 
necessary  to  win.  The  old  sfentleman  was  to  drive,  unless 
it  came  to  a  point  where  I  thought  a  change  of  drivers 
necessary,  then  there  must  not  be  a  shade  of  dissent.  He 
must  go  down  and  out  at  my  command. 

The  brother-in-law  of  the  old  gentleman,  and  a  well- 
known  pool  man,  was  also  taken  into  the  close  corpor- 
ation, making  four  stockholders,  each  liable  for  an  equal 
assessment  in  case  of  loss — which  we  thought  only  pos- 
sible in  case  lightning  should  strike  the  mare — and  each 
entitled  to  an  eaual  dividend  after  the  race  was  won.  The 
pool  man  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  financial  com- 
mittee, with  orders  to  report  progress  from  time  to  time. 

Just  before  the  race  was  called  there  raced  up  to  the 
gate,  covered  with  dust  and  sweat,  and  hitched  to  an  ordi- 
nary top  buggy,  the  bay  mare  driven  by  "The  Sandpiper." 
After  racing  with  everything  on  the  road  while  coming  to 
the  track,  he  was  now  to  make  his  first  appearance  on  the 
American  trotting  turf.  He  borrowed  an  old  straight- 
axle  sulky  that  had  not  done  track  duty  for  many  a  day, 
hired  a  "swipe,"  hitched  up  the  mare  and  appeared  at  the 
stand  when  the  bell  tapped.  His  feet  were  braced  in  the 
leather  heel  support,  instead  of  the  iron  shaft  stirrup, 
until  I,  fearing  an  accident,  told  him  where  to  put  them. 
He  exchanged  his  broad-brimmed  straw  hat,  after  some 
expostulation  and  objections,  for  a  blue  jockey  cap,  and 
wore  a  long  linen  duster. 

Meantime  the  syndicate  was  taking  all  the  Kit  Curry 
stock  in  the  betting  ring,  she  starting  at  about  $5  in  pools 
of  $80.    J.  B.  Richardson  was  first  choice;  the  Canadian 


THE    SANDPIPER.  239 

mare,  Big  Fanny,  second;  Jessie  Ballard,  third;  a  horse 
driven  by  Kelly,  "The  Geyser"  and  Kit  Curry  bringing 
about  even  money,  while  "The  Sandpiper's"  mare,  Kath- 
arina,  could  not  be  given  to  anybody  at  any  price. 

The  persistent  demand  for  Kit  Curry  tickets  had  the 
inevitable  effect — always  trust  a  pool-buyer  to  catch  on  to 
any  good  thing — and  she  steadily  rose  in  price  until  the 
last  quotation  was  that  she  was  selling  nearly  even  with 
Richardson.  We  had  something  over  $1,300  invested, 
which  stood  to  win  about  $5,500. 

I  did  not  just  fancy  the  attitude  of  my  driver  in  the 
sulky  and  the  little  brown  mare  appeared  awfully  dump- 
ish. At  that  time  Kyger  had  never  driven  for  so  much 
money  in  his  life,  and  he  looked  just  a  little  outclassed. 
So  I  instructed  the  chairman  of  the  finance  committee  to 
stop  further  operations  until  after  one  heat  had  been 
trotted. 

"The  Sandpiper,"  gay  as  a  "queen  of  the  May,"  was 
looking  at  the  ladies  in  the  grand  stand,  the  Judges  and 
reporters,  and  studying  astronomy,  and  nearly  ran  over 
two  or  three  of  his  opponents.  It  was  a  big  day  for  this 
country.  He  was  the  hero  of  the  hour,  and  somehow  his 
confidence  threw  a  shadow  over  the  certainty  of  my 
revenge  for  the  high-priced  gravel. 

Thev  scored  three  or  four  times  and  Katharina  came 
to  the  wire  like  a  "run-off  horse,"  while  the  old  man  went 
the  whole  length  of  Kit  Curry's  back,  with  his  whip, 
to  make  her  come  at  all.  It  looked  like  the  gravel  was  still 
high-priced  and  everybody  was  cheering  the  Dutchman, 
while  Kit  Curry  and  old  man  Kyger  did  look  like  a  rather 
cheap  combination. 

There  were  ten  starters.  In  the  first  heat  J.  B.  Rich- 
ardson, the  favorite,  choked  and  fell  at  the  half-mile  pole, 


240  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

and  Kit  Curry,  who  was  quite  a  ways  behind,  got  scared 
at  the  struggling  horse  lying  on  the  track  and  refused  to 
go  past  until  he  got  up  and  she  could  see  what  it  was.  I 
thought  sure  she  would  be  distanced,  but  she  was  not  and 
finished  sixth,  immediately  behind  Katharina,  Jessie  Bal- 
lard winning  the  heat,  while  Richardson  was  distanced. 

In  the  second  heat  Kit  made  a  break  and  finished  last 
but  one,  Katharina  being  close  up  to  the  leaders.  Big 
Fanny  won  this  heat. 

Kyger  came  to  me  saying  that  the  accident  in  the  first 
heat  and  the  break  in  the  second  was  only  bad  luck,  and 
wanted  another  trial,  which  I  allowed  him. 

The  third  heat  was  won  by  Globe.  Katharina,  who 
came  very  fast  through  the  stretch,  was  second  and  "right 
at  his  necktie,"  while  Kyger  and  Kit  Curry  finished  abso- 
lutely last.    That  ended  Kyger's  driving  for  that  race. 

I  went  to  Splan,  explained  the  situation,  and  he 
agreed  to  drive.  He  put  an  overcheck  on  the  mare, 
pulled  her  head  up  and  started  with  a  new  whip  (which, 
by  the  way,  he  used  quite  freely)  for  the  fourth  heat.  The 
mare  broke  on  the  first  turn,  fell  back  some,  then  came  on 
and  headed  the  field  in  the  center  of  the  home  stretch,  but 
"The  Sandpiper"  here  whistled  the  "Watch  on  the  Rhine" 
to  Katharina  and  she  came  like  a  runaway  horse,  winning 
the  heat  in  spite  of  all  Splan  could  do,  assisted  by  the  new 
whip  and  that  war  whoop.  The  audience  went  wild,  and 
I — well,  gravel  was  high-priced  then  and  I  didn't  feel 
half  as  much  like  a  pickpocket  as  I  had  the  Sunday  I  took 
Katharina's  entry  and  the  Dutchman's  money  for  the  en- 
trance fee — yet  I  was  not  real  happy  at  that. 

A  dose  of  sherry,  plenty  of  whip,  and  the  Commanche 
yell  landed  Kit  Curry  an  eyebrow  in  front  of  Katharina  in 
the  fifth  heat,  the  Dutchman  claiming  he  would  have  won 


THE    SANDPIPER.  241 

easily  but  everybody  got  in  his  "path."  He  yelled  to 
George  Forbes,  who  drove  Big  Fannie,  at  the  three-quar- 
ter pole :  "Forbes,  my  dear  sir,  you  are  in  my  path ;  lay 
over,  my  dear  sir,  and  let  me  through."  But  Forbes  kept 
his  position  and  Katharina  had  to  go  around. 

Darkness  necessitated  a  postponement,  and  Splan, 
coming  to  me,  said,  "You  hedge,  she  can't  win."  But 
how  ?  Xo  horse  yet  -had  two  heats.  So  Splan  was  in- 
structed to  warm  her  up  good  next  day  and  drive  her  for 
his  life  the  first  heat,  and  he  said,  "She  can't  win  the  first 
heat  nor  any  other  heat,  but  I'll  drive  her  for  my  life,  and 
if  anything  should  happen  that  she  should  win  the  first 
heat,  you  play  every  dollar  you  have  on  earth  against  her, 
for  she  can't  win  two  to  save  her  life." 

That  was  not  a  very  encouraging  state  of  affairs  for 
the  syndicate  to  sleep  upon,  but  Kyger  was  happy  and 
seemed  to  think  the  race  was  all  over  and  Kit  had  won. 

The  next  morning  before  I  was  up' there  was  a  knock 
at  my  door.  Kyger  stood  there,  whispering :  "Come  out 
to  the  stall."  I  went.  He  shut  the  stall  door  after  us,  as 
he  did  in  Wheeling,  and  there  was  the  mare,  her  head  as 
big  as  a  barrel,  her  eyes  swelled  shut,  her  neck  as  stiff  as  a 
post,  and  she  could  hardly  drink. 

I  told  him  to  put  her  hood  on,  so  no  one  could  see  her 
condition,  and  have  her  groom  take  her  out  in  the  dew 
and  "grass  her  out."  Just  then  some  one  rattled  the  door 
and  wanted  to  see  Kyger.  It  was  a  messenger  boy  with  a 
telegram  that  his  daughter  had  died.  It  looked  like  the 
shadow  of  fate  was  on  him  and  his,  and  from  my  heart  I 
pitied  that  grief-stricken  old  man,  who  stood  before  me 
bowed  down  and  speechless. 

The  morning  air  and  dew  and  the  grass  had  a  wonder- 
ful effect  on  Kit,  who  pricked  up  her  ears  when  a  horse 


242  TALES    OF   THE   TURF. 

went  by  on  the  track,  the  swelling  went  out  of  her  eyes 
and  her  neck  limbered  up  perceptibly.  She  was  worth  a 
dozen  dead  horses  yet.  I  did  not  tell  Splan  about  the 
trouble  until  time  to  hitch  _up.  He  then  went  out  and 
warmed  her  up  with  a  hood  on,  still  urging  me  to 
"hedge."    But  how? 

I  called  the  syndicate  together  and  said :  "You  may 
all  do  as  you  see  fit ;  I'm  going  to  hedge  if  I  can." 

She  won  the  heat  (the  sixth)  by  a  close  finish  from 
Jessie  Ballard,  and  I  immediately  started  my  ambassador 
for  the  "hedge  row."  Splan  again  urged  me  to  do  so, 
saying  she  could  not  win  another  heat  to  save  her  life. 
But  she  did  win  the  seventh  and  the  race  from  Globe,  who 
led  her  to  within  a  few  rods  of  the  wire. 

My  hedging  ambassador  had  been  busy,  and  when  I 
came  to  settle  I  found  that  he  had  played  back  all  my 
share  of  the  winnings  and  $172  more.  So  I  quit  loser  on 
that  race  that  amount,  and  always  after  that  when  I  heard 
of  a  "real  sure  thing"  I  thought  of  two  of  that  kind,  viz : 
Kit  Curry  and  John  Bostick's  "fo'  heats  in  fo'teen  to 
eighteen ;  win  shuah,"  with  Warrior. 

The  old  gentleman  and  his  country  brother-in-law 
"stood  pat"  hedged  off  but  little,  while  the  poolman  was 
"smart"  like  myself.  I  always  had  a  warm  side  for  old 
man  Kyger  after  that,  for  he  was  game  in  all  his  troubles. 
Splan  remarked  as  he  got  out  of  the  sulky  the  last  heat : 
"There  she  is  with  a  record  of  2:24^,  marked  for  life; 
she'll  never  lower  it."  He  was  mistaken,  however,  in  re- 
gard to  that,  and  old  man  Kyger  and  his  low-headed  little 
brown  mare  made  plenty  of  trouble  for  the  boys  for  years 
after  that  event.  But  the  $172  added  to  the  price  orig- 
inally paid  for  "The  Sandpiper's"  gravel  made  it  quite  an 
expensive  commodity.     And  the  Dutchman  called  around 


THE    SANDPIPER.  243 

for  the  second  money  he  had  won  with  Katharina.  The 
following  summary  of  the  race  gives  a  fair  idea  of  what 
happened  when  Kit  Curry  won : 

Cleveland,  O.,  Sept.  17  and  18,  1886. 

Purse  $600.-2:40  Class,  Trotting. 

Kit  Curry,  br.  m.,  by  Mambrino  Bruce 6     7     8  2  1  1     1 

Katharina,  b.  m.,  by  Flying  Hiatoga 4     5     2  1  2  5     4 

Globe,  b.  g.,  by  Hamlin's  Almont,  Jr 3     3     1  8  3  3     2 

Jessie  Ballard,  b.  m.,  by  Archie  Hambletonian  1646426 

Big  Fanny,  br.  m.,  by  John  E.  Rysdyk 8     1     7  5  7  6     3 

Victor,  b.  s.,  by  Valentine,  Jr 5     4     6  3  8  4     5 

Bracelet,  b.  m.,  by  Auditor 2     2     3  4  5  dr 

Jennie  M.,  ch.  m.,  by  Joe  Hooker 7     8     5  7  6  dr 

Sinbad,  gr.  s 9     dis. 

J.  B.  Richardson,  b.  g.,  by  George  Wilkes,  dis. 

Time-2:29X,  2:28,  2:29X,2:30,  2:29^,  2:24^.  2:29^. 


C.  J.  Hamlin's  standard  in  breeding  the  trotter  has 
been  "the  highest  form,  the  handsomest  horse,  combined 
with  a  level  brain  and  the  greatest  flight  of  trotting 
speed."  Those  who  have  seen  the  peerless  Belle  Hamlin, 
the  beautiful  Nightingale  and  others  of  his  breeding, 
admit  that  he  has,  by  his  determination,  his  rare  judg- 
ment, his  unfaltering  tenacity  to  this  fixed  purpose — in 
spite  of  all  the  croakings  and  attacks  of  the  skeptical,  and 
no  breeder  has  been  the  subject  of  more  bitter  criticisms — 
accomplished  what  he  started  out  to  accomplish,  and  the 
Village  Farm  can  point  to  results  in  many  respects  never 
attained  by  any  other  breeding  establishment. 


THE   SECRETARY. 


(Published  in  'The  Horse  Review,"  December  29,  1891.) 


It  was  years  ago  that  I  first  became  infatuated  with 
trotting  sport,  and  then  I  knew  everything  about  the  man- 
agement of  a  secretary's  office.  One  year  after  my  ap- 
pointment there  was  the  faintest  shadow  of  a  faint  suspi- 
cion regarding  it ;  two  years  and  the  shade  had  deepened ; 
three  years,  the  shadow  had  grown  still  darker ;  and  in  ten 
years  I  found  I  knew  nothing.  The  whole  knowledge 
was  wrapped  up  in  newspaper  writers  and  theoretical 
turfmen,  scarcely  any  of  whom  had  ever  bred  or  owned, 
or  entered  a  horse  in  a  race,  or  been  identified  in  any  way 
with  the  management  of  a  turf  association — but  yet  who 
knew  it  all. 

Bright  skies,  a  good  entry  list,  big  crowds,  close  con- 
tests, and  a  successful  meeting  is  the  goal  of  every  good 
secretary's  ambition.  But  if  it  rains  the  secretary  is  at 
fault;  if  the  entry  list  is  light  he  is  cussed  and  blamed, 
and  if  the  races  should  prove  one-sided  and  be  won  in 
straight  heats,  that  secretary  is  a  deep-dyed  renegade,  a 
fraud  and  a  failure  from  way  up  Failure  Creek. 

In  case  of    a    close    decision    in    the   judges'    stand : 

"That's  a of  an  association  you're  secretary  of,  isn't 

it  ?  Oh,  yes ;  I'll  come  back  next  year  and  trot.  Didn't 
you  say  I'd  get  a  square  deal  if  I  entered  here?  That's  a 
fine  lot  of  sand-baggers  you've  got  up  there  garroting 
horsemen,  now  ain't  they?" 


THE  SECRETARY.  245 

One  driver  has  a  sore-toed  horse,  and  to  him  the  track 
is  "hard  as  a  pavement."  To  another  one  the  track  is  soft 
and  cuppy,  and  he  wants  smooth,  firm  footing. 

Meanwhile  the  wiseacre  who  writes  for  the  papers 
looks  on,  shaking  his  head  in  the  most  dismal  manner,  de- 
ploring the  ignorance  of  track  managers  in  general,  and 
this  blessed  secretary  in  particular. 

"Entrance  fee!  Entrance  fee?  Why,  you  ought  to 
give  me  all  my  entrances  free ;  my  stable  is  a  strong  one 
and  will  advertise  your  meeting." 

"Give  me  a  special  of  $5,000,  for  my  Will-o'-the-Wisp 
to  go  against  the  record  of  any  spotted  horse,  to  a  seventy - 
eight  pound  sulky  with  a  two  hundred  pound  driver." 

"One  dollar  gate  admission !  Great  Scott !  Chain  up 
that  secretary.  When  was  he  born?  Why  doesn't  he 
keep  up  with  the  times?  Doesn't  he  know  if  they'd 
charge  twenty-five  cents  at  the  gate  the  grounds  would  be 
packed?  What  a  fine  plum  of  a  secretary  he  is!  Blow- 
ing bladders  in  a  snuff  factory  would  better  suit  his  abil- 
ity. He  doesn't  know  as  much  about  running  a  race  track 
as  I  do  about  sliding  down  a  rainbow.  A  dollar !  Noah 
must  have  dropped  him  out  of  the  ark." 

"Now,  that's  a  measly  trick  that  secretary  has  played 
on  me,  charging  me  to  come  into  that  gate.  Why,  1  sold 
the  president  of  the  society  a  barrel  of  molasses  in  1869, 
and'now  I'm  charged  to  come  into  the  gate." 

"Yes,  and  my  grandmother  buttoned  that  secretary's 
aunt's  cousin's  suspenders  when  he  was  a  mere  kid,  but 
he  charged  me.    Oh,  he's  a  wolf." 

"Give  me  my  badge,  will  you  ?  Who  am  I  ?  That's  a 
fine  question  to  ask  !  Why,  Jim  Goosenest  has  been  train- 
ing my  colt,  Shooting  Comet,  over  this  track  for  sixteen 
days  past." 


246  TALES    OF   THE   TURF. 

On  being  told  that  that  doesn't  entitle  him  to  a  badge ; 
that  Jim  Goosenest  hasn't  even  paid  $i  for  training  priv- 
ileges and  has  his  stall  rent  for  nothing,  he  leaves,  but 
with  the  indelible  impression,  which  nothing  on  earth  will 
ever  remove,  that  he  is  an  outraged  victim  of  that  bunco- 
steering,  swindling  secretary. 

And  the  bill-poster  and  advertiser  come  around  with 
their  bills. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

April  i,  1892. 
"Why  don't  you  brace  up  and  have  a  little  more  liber- 
ality? Why,  look  at  that  association  up  in  Michigan,  that 
one  up  in  Indiana,  in  Iowa,  and  even  in  Tennessee ! 
They're  up  with  the  times,  and  each  offers  $100,000  in 
premiums  at  1  per  cent,  entrance;  they  are  progressive 
and  liberal  and  know  how  to  run  an  association.  The  old 
Grand  Circuit  is  a  back  number — a  story  that  has  been 

told.    Why  the Circuit  advertises  $2,000,000  in 

premiums." 

******** 

The  cardinal  principle  of  a  secretary's  religion  is  to 
get  entries ;  to  make  a  trainer  believe  he  can't  lose  with  a 
horse  that  in  his  inmost  soul  the  secretary  fears  will  get 
"shut  out"  the  first  heat.  The  one  redeeming  feature  that 
lightens  his  conscience  is  the  reflection  that  often  the  rank 
outsider  in  reality  wins  and  beats  the  sure  tip  to  a  stand- 
still. 

The  finesse,  the  fertility  of  arguments  and  suggestions 
of  a  secretary,  when  foraging  for  entries,  is  the  standard 
by  which  he  is  measured.  Just  when  friendly  and  confi- 
dential persuasion  should,  from  business  policy,  cease,  and 
dignified  indifference  commence,  is  the  fine  art  of  an  entry 
solicitor.     He  exhausts  all  his  arguments  of  the  benefits 


THE   SECRETARY  247 

of  his  meeting,  yet  the  trainer  is  not  thoroughly  con- 
vinced, but  still  wavers  and  doubts.  Then  is  the  time  for 
a  fine  stroke  of  dignified  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  sec- 
retary pretends  he  has  given  up  all  hope  and  has  ceased 
to  care  whether  he  gets  the  entry  or  not.  He  saunters 
away,  and  now  the  trainer  gets  anxious  and  follows  up 
the  secretary.  More  indifference  on  the  part  of  the  latter, 
greater  anxiety  of  the  former,  until  he  is  even  worked  up 
to  the  pitch  of  uncertainty  as  to  whether  his  entry  will  be 
accepted,  as  he  timorously  offers  it,  and  it  is  accepted — "as 
an  accommodation." 

There  are  a  few  men  in  the  business  who  make  their 
entries  frankly,  never  holding  off,  nor  asking  this  condi- 
tion, nor  that  favor.  "Knap"  McCarthy  was  a  shining 
example  of  this  class.  "Are  you  going  to  our  meeting, 
'Knap'?"  the  secretary  asks.  "Yes,  and  I  might  as  well 
make  my  entries  now  ;  so  take  them  down."  That  was  the 
whole  formula  with  him.  Monroe  Salisbury  and  Ed 
Geers  are  also  of  this  class.  And  there  are  a  few  others, 
a  few,  yes,  a  few — very.  If  there  were  more,  the  secre- 
tary's lot  would  be  a  happier  one,  and  the  shadows  of  his 
brow  would  lighten. 


If  you  depend  for  your  income  on  the  trotting  ability 
of  a  horse — one  that  will  go  down  the  big  circuit,  and  will 
train  on,  and  trot  on,  and  win  on  season  after  season,  like 
the  old-time  campaigners,  Lady  Suffolk,  Flora  Temple, 
Dexter,  Lady  Thorn,  Goldsmith  Maid,  Rarus,  etc., — 
don't  commence  training  him  until  he  is  five  years  old. 


STRANGER. 


(Published  in  '"The  Horse  Review,"  May  5,  1892.) 


Stranger  was  only  a  horse,  a  despised  pacer,  whose 
name  does  not  shine  in  the  list  of  celebrated  equines,  not 
because  he  was  not  a  king  of  his  kind,  but  because  blind 
fate  denied  him  the  chance  of  being  so  acknowledged. 
But  to  the  rapidly  passing-away  horse  generation  of 
Northern  Ohio,  Stranger  was  a  phenomenon  of  equine 
greatness ;  and  he  is  to  this  day  mentioned  with  the  awe 
and  respect  which  merit  inspires.  As  a  landmark  in  Ohio 
horse  history,  the  pacer  out-ranks  the  trotter,  and  the 
Buckeye  state  must  be  classed  among  those  known  as 
pacing-horse  states.  Pocahontas,  Smuggler,  the  Cadmus 
family,  the  Hiatogas,  the  Tuckahoes  and  the  Strangers, 
were  all  Ohio  pacers,  and  all  have  contributed  largely  to 
the  speed  of  the  American  trotter.  Stranger  was  a  bay, 
sixteen  hands  high,  of  intelligent  disposition,  yet  unlim- 
ited courage.  Almost  phenomenally  built  and  muscled, 
bold  and  brave  in  all  his  ways,  with  the  speed  of  light- 
ning, and  these  qualities,  coupled  with  the  mystery  of  his 
sire's  history,  had  the  effect  of  creating  something  akin  to 
superstitition  among  the  horsemen  of  his  day,  and  causing 
the  many  mythical  traditions  regarding  him  current  in 
Northern  Ohio. 

The  true  story  is  as  follows  : 

''One  evening  in  the  fall  of  1852,  there  appeared  at 
the  farmhouse  of  Mr.  Galentine,    near    Sharon,    Medina 


STRANGER.  249 

County,  Ohio,  a  stranger  riding  a  blood-like  bay  stallion, 
and  asked  a  night's  lodging,  which  was  hospitably  given 
him.  That  night  he  told  Mr.  Galentine  that  his  stallion 
was  of  Kentucky  Snap  breeding.  The  next  day  the 
stranger,  who  had  so  mysteriously  put  in  his  appearance 
the  night  before,  as  mysteriously  disappeared,  leaving  the 
horse  in  the  possession  of  his  host,  who  kept  him  all  that 
winter  and  the  following  summer,  breeding  in  the  mean- 
time some  six  or  seven  mares  to  him.  In  the  fall  of  1853, 
the  mysterious  stranger  again  appeared,  paid  the  charges, 
and  on  a  bright  autumn  morning  rode  off  whistling  down 
the  road  on  his  blood-like  horse.  On  the  worm  fence  a 
squirrel  feasting  on  a  hickory  nut,  the  first  of  the  year. 
stopped  in  his  repast,  eyed  the  rider  curiously,  frisked  his 
tail  and  scampered  through  the  yellow  leaves  to  a  safe  re- 
treat on  a  big  oak ;  a  farmer  boy,  shocking  corn,  paused 
with  uplifted  blade,  looked  at  the  handsome  horse,  and 
wondered  why  fate  had  destined  him  to  work  while 
others  could  whistle  and  ride  in  pleasure ;  a  farmer's 
daughter,  with  her  coquettish  sunbonnet  and  tidy  apron, 
gazed  with  admiring  eyes  on  the  handsome  stranger  with 
his  broad-brimmed  hat,  his  easv  catch-as-catch-can  man- 
ner,  as  he  waved  his  hand  to  the  blushing  damsel  and 
rode  down  the  road,  leaving  her,  with  her  pail  full  of  milk 
and  her  heart  full  of  admiration,  standing  and  looking 
after  the  retreating  form  of  the  handsome  youth  on  his 
Kentucky  Snap ;  gazed  and  sighed  as  he  disappeared  from 
her  view,  and  from  this  chronicle;  for  no  trace  of  rider  or 
horse  was  ever  afterwards  found." 

The  produce  from  the  mares  bred  to  Kentucky  Snap 
were  all  fast  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  were  bought  at  good  prices  by  foreign  buyers  and 
undoubtedly  figure  as  the  second  and  third  dams  in  some 


250  TALES    OF   THE   TURF. 

celebrated  pedigrees  as  "a  mare  from  Ohio,  breeding  un- 
known, but  a  very  fast  roadster,"  which  is  so  frequently 
found  in  the  pedigrees  of  our  best  performers.  Among 
those  bred  to  him  was  a  sorrel  mare  by  Blucher,  owned 
by  Conrad  Turner,  of  Medina  County,  and  the  produce 
was  a  bay  colt,  foaled  in  1854,  afterwards  locally  famous 
as  Stranger.  At  four  months  of  age  he  was  sold  to  H. 
Sylvester  for  $40,  who  in  turn  disposed  of  him  when  a 
two-year-old  for  $70  to  H.  S.  Hatch,  in  whose  hands  the 
colt  received  all  the  education  he  ever  got.  Hatch  sold 
him  as  a  five-year-old  for  $2,500 — a  large  price  in  those 
days — to  YVm.  Waterman,  Shalersville,  O.,  who  owned 
him  at  the  time  of  his  death  two  years  subsequently,  when 
but  seven  years  old. 

Stranger  was  broken  and  used  by  Hatch  to  haul  wood 
in  the  winter,  and  as  an  all-around  general  purpose  horse 
as  a  two,  three  and  four-year-old.  The  spring  he  was 
five,  Hatch,  who  was  then  a  green  country  boy,  com- 
menced in  his  crude  way  to  train  him.  He  was  fast  from 
the  start,  but  cut  his  quarters  cruelly,  and,  boots  being 
then  unknown,  Hatch  used  to  tie  rags  around  his  feet  for 
protection,  until  he  discovered  that  a  heavier  shoe  avoided 
the  trouble.  After  that  he  wore  twenty-four  ounce  shoes 
forward  and  twelve-ounce  shoes  behind,  and  went  clear 
and  true. 

In  the  fall  of  1859,  Stranger  paced  his  first  race  at 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  O.,  distancing  his  only  competitor, 
Butcher  Boy,  the  first  heat  being  in  2  124.  His  next  race 
was  at  Ravenna,  O.,  where  he  again  distanced  the  field, 
composed  of  Union  Jack  (then  a  very  fast  pacer,  and 
afterwards  a  fast  trotter  under  the  name  of  Dick  Hil- 
liard),  the  Gorham  Pony  and  two  others,  the  heat  being 
about  2 :28.     Those  were  all  his  races    that    year.      The 


STRANGER.  251 

next  year  his  first  start  was  again  at  Ravenna.  His  com- 
petitors were  Rattling  Jack,  Butcher  Boy  and  several 
others,  but  Stranger  went  off  and  distanced  the  whole 
batch  in  the  first  heat,  the  time  being  about  2  122.  The 
next  week,  at  Burton,  O.,  Stranger  met  Gray  Eagle  and 
Union  Jack,  both  celebrated  horses  in  their  day,  and  dis- 
tanced them  in  the  second  heat  in  2:18,  pacing  the  last 
turn  of  the  track  in  1 105.  The  track  was,  however,  some 
two  rods  short  of  a  half-mile.  In  all  the  foregoing  races 
Stranger  was  driven  by  Hatch,  although  the  horse  was 
not  during  the  latter  part  of  the  time  his  property.  When 
he  was  seven  years  old  he  started  with  a  new  driver 
(Hatch  being  absent  from  home)  at  Cleveland,  threw  a 
shoe  in  the  first  heat,  and,  there  being  no  blacksmith  pres- 
ent, he  was  drawn.  The  third  day  afterwards,  however, 
he  started  again  against  nearly  the  same  field,  defeating 
them  in  a  hollow  manner  in  about  seven  seconds  faster 
time  than  was  made  in  the  first  race,  and  pacing  close  to 
2:20. 

Hatch  then  roaded  him  from  Cleveland  to  Adrian, 
Mich.,  to  go  a  match  against  a  Coldwater  pacer.  That 
was  in  1861.  The  match  was  the  result  of  a  bitter  horse 
rivalry  between  Adrian  and  Coldwater.  The  backer  of 
Stranger  wanting  to  "see  what  sort  of  a  horse  he  was 
betting  on,"  prevailed  on  Hatch  to  show  him  "in  private" 
a  trial.  The  opposition,  however,  got  wind  of  it,  had  a 
hidden  representative  there,  and  when  Stranger  stepped 
off  the  trial  in  2:18  the  Coldwater  contingent  threw  up 
their  hands  and  paid  forfeit.  The  match  was  abandoned, 
and  Hatch  started  over  the  road  on  his  return  trip  wiser, 
but  the  amount  of  his  expenses  poorer. 

Pocahontas  had  several  years  prior  made  her  fast  rec- 
ord and  was  open  to  "pace  anything  that  wore  hair  for 


252  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

big  money."  A  New  York  man  hearing  of  Stranger,  and 
believing  the  mare  was  no  longer  as  fast  as  when  she 
made  her  record  of  2  117^  to  wagon  in  1855,  travelled  to 
Ohio  to  secure  the  stallion  for  a  race  for  $5,000  a  side. 
Stranger  showed  him  a  mile  in  2:17^,  which  was  good 
enough  he  thought,  but  the  horse  died  while  the  nego- 
tiations were  pending. 

Stranger  left  a  family  of  fine  horses  in  Northern  Ohio, 
everyone  of  which  had  some  speed  at  the  trot  or  pace. 
The  Canadian  horse  Rooker,  founder  of  the  family  bear- 
ing that  name,  is  his  chief  representation ;  but  there  are 
many  with  records,  and  the  strain  is  continually  cropping 
out  in  pedigrees  of  fast  performers.  Yankee  Sam,  a  dun 
gelding  that  paced  over  the  Cleveland  track  a  trial  in 
2:17,  and  was  a  phenomenally  fast  horse  at  both  the  trot- 
ting and  pacing  gaits,  was  his  fastest  representative.  He 
was  "doped"  by  some  villian  to  prevent  his  winning  a 
match  race  and  never  recovered  from  its  effects.  Chest- 
nut Tom,  alias  Stranger,  made  a  trotting  record  of  2:31 
under  the  latter  name,  and  under  another  alias  one  better 
than  2  130,  it  is  said.  He  sired  considerable  speed.  Tom 
B.,  2  132,  that  was  owned  by  W.  J.  Gordon,  and  trotted  a 
trial  over  the  Cleveland  track  in  2  125,  was  sired  by  him. 
Another  mare  went  to  Wisconsin  and  obtained  a  record  of 
2  132,  and  there  were  a  number  of  his  get  in  the  vicinity 
of  Cleveland  with  records  close  to  2  :3c  In  his  days  no 
records  of  performances  were  kept  in  Northern  Ohio,  and 
it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  he  died  so  young,  for 
otherwise  the  name  of  Stranger  would  be  among  the  stars 
of  the  horse  history  of  the  country. 


TYPES   OF   HORSES. 


(Published  in  "Kentucky-  Stock  Farm."  December  29,  1892.) 


Did  you  ever  buy  a  horse  ? 

Did  it  ever  strike  you  that  you  couldn't  tell  a  runner 
from  a  trotter,  or  a  hackney  from  a  pony,  or  a  coach 
horse  from  a  pacer?  And  yet  there  are  points  about  fine 
horses  that  mark  each  as  typical  of  a  class. 

The  distinctions  in  breeds  are  many,  and  the  eye  of  the 
good  horseman  can  class  an  animal  the  moment  he  catches 
a  glimpse  of  it.  He  judges  it  by  conformation,  by  action, 
by  size,  by  disposition.  He  can  tell  in  an  instant  if  a 
horse  is  "bloodlike,"  and  by  the  contour  of  the  head  can 
almost  call  off  the  pedigree.  The  thorough  or  running- 
bred  horse  is  best  judged  in  his  racing  form.  He  is 
lighter  boned  than  the  trotter,  or,  in  fact,  than  the  horses 
of  any  other  breed,  more  nervous  in  disposition,  higher 
strung,  and  has  a  cleaner  and  finer  look.  He  has  what  in 
racing  parlance  we  term  a  "bloodlike"  look.  When  used 
for  breeding  purposes  his  form  is  different,  and  he  is 
somewhat  more  difficult  to  judge.  But  in  racing  form  his 
fine  ears,  clean  cut  head,  light  neck,  the  fine  coat  on  his 
body,  and  the  lack  of  hair  on  the  fetlocks,  tell  you  on  the 
instant  that  he  can  trace  his  ancestry  down  through  seven 
or  more  generations  of  thoroughbred  lines.  I  consider 
Don  Alonzo,  who  sold  recently  for  $30,000.  the  finest  type 
of  this  class  I  know?  Eros  is  another  fine  type  of  the 
class.  Then,  too,  the  action  tells  you  the  difference.  In, 
the  thoroughbred  it  is  generally  low  and  of  the  "daisy- 


254  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

cutting"  order,  whether  it  be  at  the  trotting  gait  or  at  the 
galop.  Here  in  America  we  use  the  thoroughbred  ex- 
clusively for  racing,  but  in  England  cavalry  officers  take 
especial  delight  in  pressing  the  fine  animal  into  their 
active  service. 

The  story  of  the  American  trotting-  horse  is  one  of  in- 
tense interest  to  the  public,  for  he  is  peculiarly  an  Ameri- 
can institution.  By  way  of  preliminary  I  may  say  that  he 
is  a  descendant  originally  from  a  cross  of  the  old  English 
Norfolk  trotter  family  with  the  thoroughbred.  Imported 
Messenger  is  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  and 
he  was  an  animal  born  with  the  trotting  instinct  devel- 
oped to  an  almost  abnormal  degree.  Almost  every  trot- 
ting horse  in  America  to-day  traces  directly  to  him.  The 
family  was  then  improved  by  the  importation  of  Bell- 
founder,  who  was  in  reality  a  Norfolk  trotter,  with  a  rec- 
ord, so  tradition  has  it,  of  seventeen  miles  in  an  hour. 
But  the  most  potent  and  most  fashionable  branch  of  the 
trotting  horse  family  developed  from  the  Charles  Kent 
Mare,  sired  by  Bellfounder,  and  out  of  a  mare  of  Messen- 
ger descent,  bred  to  Abdallah,  a  great  grandson  of  imp. 
Messenger.  The  result  of  this  union  was  Rvsdvk's  Ham- 
bletonian,  far  and  away  the  greatest  progenitor  of  trot- 
ting stars  in  this  country.  Nancy  Hanks,  Stamboul, 
Kremlin,  Sunol,  Maud  S.,  Arion,  Palo  Alto  and  others  as 
famous,  trace  to  him. 

In  conformation  the  trotter  is  one  of  more  substance, 
of  more  bone  and  perhaps  less  finish  than  marks  the  thor- 
oughbred. In  fact,  he  partakes  somewhat  of  the  form  of 
what  is  now  known  as  the  hackney,  and  in  reality  the  trot- 
ter must  be  regarded  as  an  intermediate  step  between  the 
thoroughbred  and  the  hackney.  The  highest  type  of  the 
trotter  has  knee  action  between  the  stiff-kneed  action  of 


TYPES   OF   HORSES.  255 

the  thoroughbred  trotter  when  on  a  trotting  gait  and  the 
excessive  knee  action  of  the  hackney.  Flying  Jib  is  in 
reality  a  trotting-bred  horse,  and,  while  a  pacer,  has  more 
of  the  typical  formation  of  a  trotter  than  of  his  pacing 
class.  And  I  might  say  here  that  the  pacing  formation  is 
essentially  that  of  a  trotting  horse,  having  generally  the 
peculiarity  of  a  sloping  shoulder  and  more  particularly  of 
a  drooping  rump.  But  our  fastest  pacers  can  almost  all 
be  traced  back  to  Hambletonian,  and  I  include  in  this 
generalization  both  Flying  Jib  and  Direct.  But  the  trot- 
ter is  not  really  an  established  type.  The  old  saying  con- 
cerning a  trotter,  "he  trots  in  all  shapes,"  still  holds  good. 
But  we  are  approaching  a  type,  and  that  very  rapidly. 
Senator  Stanford  and  others  have  done  much  to  bring 
this  change  about,  and  the  lover  of  the  horse  has  much  to 
thank  these  men  for. 

The  type  of  the  trotter  when  he  comes  will  be  a  horse 
15.3  hands  high,  weighing,  in  ordinary  condition,  1,100 
pounds.  His  eyes,  neck,  ears  and  head  will  approach 
those  of  the  thoroughbred,  although  made  on  a  shade 
larger  and  on  a  somewhat  coarser  scale.  He  will  be  a 
stronger  made  horse  in  all  respects,  inclined  to  be  more 
round  in  his  body,  heavier  quartered,  not  so  angular  as 
the  thoroughbred  and  of  a  more  tractable  and  kind  dis- 
position. 

Writing  of  the  disposition  of  horses  recalls  vividly  to 
my  mind  the  love  of  the  late  Mr.  Vanderbilt  for  Maud  S., 
and  that  affection  can  be  found  between  the  owner  or 
trainer  of  almost  every  trotter  in  the  country  and  the  ani- 
mal. When  you  buy  a  runner  you  expect  some  one  else  to 
ride  him.  The  trotter  is  your  "fun."  You  take  him  in 
hand  and  he  wheels  you  at  a  bracing  speed,  and  in  every 
movement  you  note  the  "fine  spirits"  of  the  animal.     I 


256  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

once  possessed  a  trotter  that  judged  me  as  finely  as  human 
eye  or  mind.  When  I  happened  to  be  of  rather  sour  dis- 
position the  animal  would  fret  as  I  neared  him  and  show 
a  sympathy  that  at  times  took  on  a  marvelous  turn.  If  I 
came  near  him  feeling  gay  the  horse  would  assume  the 
same  disposition.  His  eye  would  light  up,  his  head  would 
show  its  gratification,  and  so  we  were  always  in  sympathy. 
So  I  say,  give  me  the  trotter  above  all  breeds  and  classes. 

The  hackney  is  essentially  an  English  family.  It  is 
an  established  breed  and  really  a  perpetration  of  the  Nor- 
folk trotter.  He  has  not  been  "fined  up"  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  thoroughbred  blood  and  is  at  no  point  as  fine  as  a 
trotting  horse.  In  conformation  he  is  what  is  termed 
pony  built,  is  shorter  in  body,  heavier  boned,  heavier 
necked,  but  with  fine,  expressive  head  and  ears.  In  action, 
as  I  said  before,  the  trotter  resembles  the  hackney  more 
than  the  thoroughbred,  the  hackney  having  excessive  knee 
and  hock  action  and  a  "trappy"  way  of  handling  his  legs. 
In  fact,  the  hackney  more  closely  resembles  the  original 
progenitor  of  all  these  breeds,  the  Arab,  than  either  the 
trotter  or  the  runner. 

We  have  really  no  type  of  the  coach  horse,  but  look 
abroad  for  our  best  breeding  animals  in  this  class.  The 
coach  horse  is  made  on  a  larger  scale  than  the  other 
breeds  mentioned.  He  is  the  result  of  crossing  the  heavy 
Norman  and  Belgian  horses  with  the  Arabian  and 
thoroughbred.  The  typical  animal  should  be  upward  of 
sixteen  hands,  solid  color,  good  neck,  eye,  ear,  good  bone, 
with  plenty  of  substance,  and  yet  with  a  certain  degree  of 
finish.  His  action  is  much  that  of  the  trotting  horse  and 
the  tendency  is  now  to  breed  a  higher  gait,  much  resem- 
bling that  of  the  hackneys.  The  English  coach  horse 
proper  is  best  represented  by  a  family  called  the  Cleveland 


TYPKS  OF    HORSES.  257 

Bay,  all  bay  in  color,  strongly  marked,  upward  of  sixteen 
hands  and  good  travelers.  They  are  good  long  distance 
horses  and  much  in  demand,  both  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica. 


I  have  always  contended  that  harness  racing  should  be 
classed  as  a  quasi-amateur  sport.  Not  one  man  in  ten 
who  breeds  or  campaigns  trotters  does  it  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  making  money.  They  go  into  it  for  the  fun  they 
can  have,  the  same  as  the  man  who  buys  a  yacht  or  who 
keeps  a  shotgun  or  a  brace  of  setters.  And  they  expect  to 
pay  for  their  sport.  Everybody,  from  the  millionaire 
breeder  to  the  farmer  boy,  hopes  to  bring  out  a  winner  or 
a'  world  beater  some  day,  and  when  you  come  right  down 
to  it,  that's  the  backbone  and  mainstay  of  the  trotting  turf. 
Eliminate  that  spirit  and  there  would  not  be  a  Grand  Cir- 
cuit meeting. 


GOOD    LUCK. 


(Published  in  "Turf,  Field  and  Farm,"  December  2,  1892.) 


It  seems  that  good  luck  will  follow  some  people,  and 
he  who  is  not  a  believer  in  luck  is  almost  invariably  a 
"lucky  dog"  himself,  who  wants  his  luck  credited  to  the 
more  popular  characteristic  named  "good  judgment." 

The  late  W.  J.  Gordon,  of  Cleveland,  always  insisted 
that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  luck,  but  he  was  the  per- 
sonification of  good  luck  combined  with  the  good  judg- 
ment of  a  canny  Scotchman — as  he  was  by  descent.  I 
remember  overhearing  an  interesting  discussion  between 
him  and  the  foreman  of  his  park,  who  was  also  a  canny 
Scot,  and  in  which  I  thought  the  humble  debater  rather 
got  the  better  of  the  argument. 

"I  tell  you,  John,  there  is  no  such  thing  as  luck ;  how 
often  have  I  told  vou  that  luck  is  an  infernal  visionarv 
humbug  and  good  judgment  a  stern  reality,"  excitedly 
said  the  rich  man. 

"Well,  now,  Mr.  Gordon,"  says  John,  "the  faculty  of 
being  smart  and  possessing  good  judgment  is  born  in  a 
man,  isn't  it  ?  He  is  smart  and  successful  because  he  was 
born  smart.    Isn't  that  so  ?"  says  John. 

"Yes,  that  is  so ;  and  just  what  I've  been  telling  you  all 
along,"  replied  Mr.  Gordon. 

"Well,  then,  Mr.  Gordon,  wasn't  he  in  bonnie  good 
luck  to  be  born  smart,  like  you,  and  in  cussed  bad  luck  to 
be  born  dull,  like  me  ?    Answer  that,  will  you  ?" 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE. 


(Published  in  the  "American  Stock  Farm,"  November  23,  1899.) 


The  American  trotter  is  the  most  useful  all  around 
horse  of  the  world ;  he  is  the  swiftest  and  most  tractable 
in  harness ;  he  is  a  great  sporting  horse ;  he  can  run  some, 
he  can  work  a  great  deal ;  he  can  outlast  any  breed  in  the 
world ;  he  can  pull  a  plow  if  necessary,  and  he  can  out- 
hackney  a  hackney  in  the  premium  show  ring,  and  beat 
him  at  his  own  game — showing  off.  The  thoroughbred 
horse  will  always  have  his  field-sport,  and  sport  only. 
Clydesdales,  Percherons,  Normans  and  other  heavy  draft 
breeds  have  their  place  and  always  will  have  it — drudgery 
only.  But  the  American  trotter  beats  the  world  doing 
everything — and  always  will.  This  fact  is  most  remark- 
able when  the  comparative  youth  of  the  breed  is  consid- 
ered, for  it  is  but  little  over  fifty  years  since  its  origin, 
and  not  much  more  than  half  that  number  since  an  intel- 
ligent study  as  to  how  to  produce  him  with  a  degree  of 
certainty  was  applied.  The  thoroughbred,  or  running 
breed,  has  existed  hundreds  of  years,  yet  we  now  breed 
trotters  that  can  race  successfully  in  almost  if  not  quite 
the  proportion  of  the  runner  that  can  race  successfully. 

Brushing  aside  the  cobwebs  of  visionary  theorists, 
each  with  a  different  hobby,  the  widespread  fallacy  of  the 
Arabian  breed  or  the  legend  of  the  horse  that  swam 
ashore  somewhere  on  the  Puritan  banks  of  New  England, 
practical  horsemen  of  to-day  regard  this  wonderful  result 
as  primarily  a  lucky  combination,  or  the  uniting  and  blend- 
ing of  different  harmonizing  strains  which  produced  a 
fortunate  nick,  and  which  included  that  of  the  English 


260  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

thoroughbred  horse,  principally  through  imported  Mes- 
senger, who,  though  passing  as  a  strictly  thoroughbred, 
perhaps  was  really  a  trifle  short  of  the  required  standard 
by  reason  of  a  cross  back  in  his  pedigree  of  the  Norfolk 
trotter,  with  the  native  breed  called  the  Narragansett 
pacer  and  others  of  the  best  and  toughest  individuals  of 
any  and  all  breeds.  In  short,  our  forefathers  builded 
wiser  than  they  knew,  and  in  doing  so  established  the 
foundation  of  the  best  breed  of  horses  in  the  world  to-day. 
From  the  supposed  strains  of  this  foundation,  some  real, 
others  purely  imaginary,  later  on  grew  the  endeavor  to 
establish  this  horse  as  a  breed,  and,  as  is  always  the  case, 
the  praiseworthy  undertaking  enlisted  an  army  of  recruits 
to  the  cause,  many  theorists,  some  good  ideas,  some  verit- 
able rot,  all  prejudiced  with  a  hobby,  all  believing  they 
could  breed  the  trotter  the  same  as  Paderewski  plays  the 
piano — by  note — that  is,  by  a  pedigree.  Of  course,  this 
resulted  in  intelligent  investigation  and  a  survival  of  the 
fittest  of  the  theories,  and  in  consequence  the  breed  may 
now  be  said  to  be  established.  It  is  susceptible  of  im- 
provement principally  in  establishing  a  more  uniform  type, 
a  merit  greatly  lacking  at  present  in  the  breed,  for  a 
trotter  may  be  a  pony  or  a  leviathan ;  he  may  have  short 
legs  and  be  stout  of  body,  or  he  may  stand  on  stilts  and 
lack  substance ;  he  may  be  "homely"  enough  to  drive  one 
to  a  jag  cure,  or  handsome  as  the  rosy  morn.  But  with 
it  all  he  is  a  hardy  horse,  an  intelligent  fellow,  and  a  do- 
or-die, in-at-the-death  determined  one.  Type  is  about  the 
only  lacking  desirable  quality  in  the  breed,  a  fact  now 
recognized  by  breeders,  and  when  an  American  sees  a 
chance  for  improvement  on  anything,  that  improvement 
comes  surely  and  quickly.  Then  the  breed  will  be  per- 
fect. 


THE    AMERICAN   TROTTING    HORSE.  261 

Trotting  sport  has  a  foothold  to-day  greater  than  ever 
before  in  the  world's  history.  England,  its  original 
birthplace,  drifted  away  from  it  for  many  years,  but  it 
has  recently  met  with  more  fayor  than  ever.  There  are 
several  courses  used  exclusively  for  the  sport,  and  a  move 
is  on  the  tapis  to  build  a  track  in  London  which  will  bear 
favorable  comparison  with  any  trotting  course  in  Amer- 
ica; something  on  the  plan  of  the  new  Empire  City  track 
in  New  York.  Several  prominent  American  turfmen  are 
identified  in  the  project  with  wealthy  English  lovers  of 
the  trotter,  and  as  the  management  will  largely  adopt 
American  methods,  the  movement  cannot  fail  in  giving 
an  impetus  to  the  sport  which  will  prove  most  beneficial 
to  its  interests.  Even  now  England  has  the  distinction 
of  holding  the  world's  four-mile  trotting  record,  9:58, 
made  by  Polly  G.,  an  American-bred  mare  that  raced 
quite  successfully  in  this  country  as  Bertie  R.,  taking  a 
mile  record  of  2  :i2^  before  going  abroad.  In  both 
Scotland  and  Ireland  there  are  a  number  of  trotting 
tracks,  and  the  sport  is  in  great  favor  in  those  countries. 

On  the  European  continent  trotting  is  the  national 
horse-racing  sport.  Russia  has  a  native  breed  called  the 
Orlofrs,  but  has  made  large  importations  of  the  better  or 
American  breed,  which,  crossed  on  the  Orloff,  has  im- 
proved the  native  stock  greatly  in  speed,  quality  and  sta- 
mina. The  Czar  is  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  sport,  and 
supports  a  campaigning  stable  of  his  own.  The  govern- 
ment employs  an  American  instructor  in  the  art  of  driv- 
ing, and  trotting  is  really  the  only  recognized  horse  sport 
of  the  nation,  the  pure-bred  American  horses,  however, 
holding  all  the  champion  records  of  that  country,  and  for 
that  matter  every  country.  Italy  and  France  are  ardent- 
ly interested  in  the  trotter  and  have  a  number  of  very  fine 


262  TALES   OF   THE   TURK. 

courses.  But  Germany  and  Austria  are  the  leaders  of 
the  trotting  game  in  Europe ;  that  is,  the  present  interest 
is  greater  there  and  is  growing  rapidly.  Austria  has  been 
the  most  extensive  buyer  of  American  horses,  in  fact, 
has  purchased  many  of  the  best  campaigners,  and  conse- 
sequently  owns  the  fastest  and  best  trotting  race  horses 
in  Europe.  Australia  has  trotting  tracks,  and  trotting 
sport  ranks  high  there,  although  as  yet  not  equal  to  that 
of  the  thoroughbred  running  sport.  Even  Japan  has  got 
the  fever,  that  government  having  purchased  in  Califor- 
nia specimens  for  breeding  purposes. 

What  is  the  limit  of  speed  to  be  obtained  by  a  trotting 
horse?  Among  the  first  authenticated  records  three 
minutes  was  considered  very  fast  for  a  trotter;  later  the 
2  40  rate  prevailed,  and  although  there  were  some  real 
phenomenons  for  their  day  that  could  do  2  130  or  close 
to  it,  the  2 140  lasted  longer  perhaps  than  any  other  given 
class.  Then  came  the  2  130  line,  and  there  were  but  com- 
paratively few  that  had  beaten  that  mark,  when  one  day 
the  little  bob-tailed  Flora  Temple  electrified  the  nation 
by  stepping  a  fraction  of  a  second  better  than  2 :2c 
There  was  a  great  time  in  America  when  the  feat  was 
made  public.  Bands  played,  cannons  fired  and  fireworks 
lit  up  the  heavens  in  almost  every  hamlet  in  the  country. 
Five  years  prior  to  this  performance  the  Ohio  bred  mare 
Pocahontas  paced  a  mile  to  wagon  in  a  race  in  2:173/2. 
In  1867  the  white-legged,  steel-trap-gaited  Dexter  trot- 
ted in  2:1734.  Then  records  commenced  being  reduced 
so  rapidly  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  keep  track  of 
them.  Goldsmith  Maid,  2:14,  Rarus,  2:13^4,  Maud  S., 
2:08 24  flashed  with  meteoric  brilliancy  across  the  trot- 
ting sky.  Then  came  the  pneumatic  tired  sulky,  since 
which  time  a  lightning  calculator  can  scarcely  keep  tabs 


THE   AMERICAN   TROTTING    HORSE.  263 

on  reductions.  The  present  trotting  record,  2  103 24 >  held 
by  the  bay  mare  Alix,  has,  however,  stood  a  number  of 
years,  while  Star  Pointer's  1  :59>4  at  the  pacing  gait  has 
also  stood  several  seasons.  However,  record  reductions 
seem  to  come  in  periods,  and  when  once  a  break  is  made 
both  these  marks  will  almost  surely  be  reduced.  That 
it  has  not  been  accomplished  before  is  attributed  by  many 
to  the  fact  that  in  our  haste  for  money  we  have  adopted 
the  colt  plan  of  racing,  the  same  as  the  thoroughbreds, 
and  many  youngsters  that  in  maturity  could  do  the  trick 
are  really  shelved  before  that  period  by  reason  of  the 
strain  upon  them  incident  to  the  hard  work  necessary  in 
the  preparation  of  a  colt  stake  winner.  Whether  this  evil 
will  correct  itself  remains  to  be  seen,  but  some  of  our 
largest  breeders — the  Hamlins,  for  instance — have  al- 
ready tabooed  the  method,  and  undoubtedly  others  will 
follow  the  example.  Of  course  it  goes  without  saying 
that  trotting  in  America  never  before  attained  the  popu- 
larity which  exists  to-day.  Barring  a  few  metropolitan 
centers,  like  New  York,  Chicago  and  San  Francisco,  it 
holds  sway  over  the  whole  country.  It  is  the  national  horse 
racing  sport  of  America.  There  is  more  money  invested 
in  the  production  of  the  trotting  horse  throughout  the 
country,  by  long  odds,  than  in  the  production  of  any  other 
animal.  The  rank  and  file  of  our  countrymen  look  upon 
it  as  the  cleanest  and  best  racing  sport,  and  it  would  in- 
deed be  a  pessimist  who  cannot  see  prosperity  and  a 
glorious  future  for  this  great  breed. 

[Since  the  above  was  written  The  Abbot  cut  the  world's 
record  to  2:03^  in  1900,  while  in  1901  Cresceus  moved  the  time 
limit  for  a  mile  to  2:02^.] 


LIMIT  OF  TROTTING   SPEED. 


(Published  in  the  "New  York  Sportsman,"  December  26,  1891.) 


I  do  not  see  how  we  can  reasonably  expect  a  two- 
minute  trotter.  I  have  seen  all  the  fastest  horses  of  the 
world  trot ;  I  mean  by  this,  the  fastest  by  the  crucial  test 
of  a  public  record,  and  I  assume  that  they  are  the  fastest 
ones,  but  I  have  never  seen  a  quarter  trotted  in  30  sec- 
onds. 

Now  to  trot  a  mile  in  two  minutes,  a  horse  would 
have  to  go  four  quarters  at  that  average,  and  be  able  to 
trot  one  quarter  in  about  28  seconds.  At  least  there  has 
been  about  that  relative  difference  between  the  fastest 
quarter  in  every  fast  mile  that  was  ever  trotted,  and  the 
slowest  one  in  the  same  mile. 

There  is  no  denvinor  the  fact  that  trotters  of  olden 
time  had  almost,  if  not  quite  as  much  speed  as  the  ones 
of  the  present  day,  and  the  principal  difference  is  that 
our  horses  can  carry  the  clip  a  greater  distance  than  the 
trotters  of  the  past. 

This  may  be  accounted  for  partially  by  the  difference 
in  tracks  and  the  weight  of  vehicles,  and  the  mode  of 
training.  We  all  know  that  there  are  a  great  many  more 
trotters  capable  of  extreme  feats  in  our  times,  but  that 
simply  comes  as  a  result  of  breeding. 

In  all  probability  there  are  a  thousand  trotters  bred 
now-a-days  to  where  there  was  one  bred  forty  or  fifty 
years  ago. 

About  2  105  will,  in  my  judgment,  be  the  limit  of  trot- 
ting speed ;  that  is  unless  we  vastly  improve  over  our 


LIMIT   OF   TROTTING   SPEED.  265 

present  manner  of  track  building,  training  and  vehicles. 
There  are  rapid  strides  in  these  directions,  and  a  track 
coated  with  rubber,  and  a  sulky  that  will  propel  the  horse 
are  possibilities.  In  fact,  the  rubber  track  is  feasible  and 
would  be  the  fastest,  safest  and  best  track  in  the  world. 
Let  some  enterprising  man  take  hold  and  build  one  and 
the  present  records  would  be  knocked  into  smithereens. 

[Ten  years  after  the  above  was  written  the  world's  record  for 
trotters  was  cut  to  2:02 14  by  Cresceus,  while  on  September  29, 
1899,  The  Abbot  trotted  an  exhibition  quarter  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
in  twenty-nine  seconds.  —  Ed.] 


A  hundred  years  from  now  (1995)  when  the  trotting 
record  will  be  about  i  45  and  the  pacing  record  about 
1  42^4,  when  trotting  horse  history  and  trotting  breeding 
will  be  advanced  by  the  experience  of  a  century,  the  name 
of  Bonner  will  stand  in  sunlight  brightness  as  one,  prob- 
ably above  all  others,  that  has  done  most  in  the  interests 
of  the  American  trotter, during  the  infancy  of  the  breed, 
to  make  it  successful.  The  Bonners  are  a  family  of  trot- 
ting horse  admirers  and  benefactors.  Robert  Bonner, 
David  Bonner,  Alley  Bonner,  are  names  known  the  world 
over  and  identified  with  all  that  is  pure  in  the  love  of  that 
great  animal. 

There  is  nothing  that  "draws  at  the  gate"  like  a  bit- 
terly fought,  game  contest.  One  sees  it  to-day,  and  wants 
to  see  another  to-morrow.  It's  simply  nature,  the  spirit  of 
fight  that  is  born  in  every  living  being. 


ANDY  AND   I. 


(Published  in  "The  Horseman,"  December  13,  1894.) 


"Carrying  coals  to  Newcastle,"  the  proverbially  use- 
less labor,  would  scarcely  be  considered  a  more  foolish 
venture,  from  a  business  standpoint,  than  for  a  pair  of 
Americans  to  journey  to  France  for  the  purpose  of  learn- 
ing how  to  conduct  a  trotting  meeting.  We — Andy  and 
I — landed  in  Paris  early  one  bright  sunny  morning  in 
March,  1894,  and  after  a  series  of  signs,  gibberish  and 
contortions — in  which  Andy  was  the  chief  contortionist 
and  star  acrobat — in  the  office  of  the  Grand  Terminal 
Hotel,  intended  as  an  explanation  that  we  weary  trav- 
elers, were  Americans,  and  wished  rooms  and  other  ac- 
commodations incident  to  the  business  of  hotel-keeping, 
the  good-looking  clerk,  with  a  demure  twinkle  of  his 
eve  and  the  best  of  English,  said  "Certainly,  gentlemen ; 
glad  to  see  you.  Will  you  have  rooms  on  the  first  floor 
with  baths?"  The  blank,  utterly  imbecile  expression  of 
amazement  on  Andy's  countenance  was  a  subject  that 
should  have  been  perpetuated  to  future  generations  by  the 
kodak.  As  the  ship  had  landed  its  passengers  in  Calais 
about  midnight  and  we  had  been  on  the  short  "bob-bitty" 
French  steam  cars  the  remainder  of  the  night,  the  luxury 
of  the  rooms  assigned  us,  after  ten  nights'  experience  in 
the  state  rooms  of  an  ocean  steamer,  was  fully  appre- 
ciated. The  carpets  were  like  stepping  on  a  soft,  mossy 
bank;  the  beds,  with  three  mattresses,  all  bedecked  with 
delicate  trimmings,  laces  and  other  finery;  everything  so 
sweet,  clean  and  cozy,  made  our  two-hour  nap  most  in- 
vigorating. 


ANDY   AND    I.  267 

At  breakfast,  on  looking  over  the  Paris  edition  of  the 
New  York  Herald,  we  discovered  that  there  was  a  trot- 
ting meeting  in  progress  at  Vincennes  that  afternoon,  an 
event  bound  to  capture  two  trotting  cranks  like  ourselves. 
It  was  a  lovely  drive  of  seven  miles,  part  of  the  distance 
through  public  parks,  to  the  race-course,  and  on  our  ar- 
rival there  nearlv  the  first  man  we  met  was  Horace  Brown. 
His  instructions  aided  us  in  getting  a  good  location  on  the 
grandstand,  which  cost  for  each  about  $5  in  American 
money — yet  our  race-goers  kick  "like  steers  in  the  corn" 
because  they  have  to  pay  $1.  The  $5  gave  the  privilege  of 
visiting  the  paddocks,  and  there  we  took  our  first  lessons 
in  French  methods  of  preparing  horses  for  racing.  Barr- 
ing the  big  event  of  the  day,  which  was  open  to  horses 
of  all  nations,  and  in  which  Brown  had  the  American 
hcrse  Buford,  all  the  races  on  the  card  were  for  Euro- 
pean-bred horses  and  were  to  saddle.  The  distance  of 
each  varied  from  two  to  three  mile  dashes,  most  of  the 
events  being  for  colts  and  fillies — three  and  four-year- 
olds.  Now,  you  can  form  an  idea  of  what  is  expected  of 
a  youngster  on  the  trotting  turf  in  France.  The  weight 
of  the  riders  seemed  to  cut  no  figure,  and  varied  from 
that  which  could  almost  go  through  the  mails  for  a  two- 
cent  stamp  to  a  two  hundred-pound  lusty  fellow  who  rode 
a  horse  from  his  ears  to  his  tail.  It  seemed  to  me  that 
I  never  saw  so  many  poor  riders  in  my  life,  and  the  sight 
of  a  great  strapping  fellow  with  whip  and  spur  on  a  lit- 
tle two-year-old,  away  behind  the  leaders  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  yet  being  punished  at  almost  every  stride,  was 
painfully  absurd. 

There  is  a  sort  of  covered  paddock  in  which  the  horses 
competing  each  day  are  "corralled."  It  includes  a  min- 
iature track  for  leading  before  the  race,  and  walking  dur- 


268  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

ing  the  cooling-out  process  after  the  event.  When  the 
signal  is  given  every  horse  has  just  so  long  a  time  to 
get  into  that  shed,  and  if  not  there  at  the  last  tick  of  the 
watch  within  the  time  limit,  he  stays  out,  and  his  nom- 
inator is  a  subject  for  the  discipline  committee.  Every- 
thing is  done  with  military  promptness  and  precision. 
There  is  no  chaffing  nor  back  talk ;  every  man  knows 
what  is  required  of  him,  and  does  it.  This  discipline  is 
noticeable  at  every  stage  of  the  sport,  no  yelling,  no  de- 
lay, no  friction,  everything  moves  with  clock-like  regu- 
laritv ;  and  that  is  where  France  is  far  ahead  of  America 
in  the  conduct  of  a  race-meeting. 

The  powers  of  the  Judges  are  probably  arbitrary,  but 
there  are  no  charges  of  favoritism,  no  demurring  to  the 
ruling,  no  kicking  nor  chaffing.  The  perpetration  of  a 
foul  drive  is  rarely  charged  by  one  driver  on  another. 
When  it  does  occur  there  is  a  certain  decorum,  amount- 
ing almost  to  dignity,  displayed  by  both  parties  to  the 
complainant;  and  the  consideration  of  the  Judges  im- 
presses you  with  a  feeling  of  respect  and  confidence  in 
the  justice  of  the  decision,  which  is  never  questioned  by 
the  public  or  the  press.  Every  attendant  is  dressed  neat- 
ly and  cleanly  in  the  uniform  of  his  owner;  and  every 
rider  and  driver  is  designated  by  the  colors  of  his  racing 
stable.  They  have  bright,  showy  and  becoming  uniforms, 
generally  including  white  knee-breeches  and  top  boots. 
The  "weighing-in"  process,  assigning  of  positions  and 
settlement  of  entrances  are  details  of  the  forenoon,  so 
when  the  starting  for  the  post  signal  is  give  in  the  after- 
noon, there  is  no  delay ;  in  fact  no  business  detail  to  be 
arranged.  Every  man  knows  his  position  and  takes  it 
at  the  post. 


ANDY    AND    I.  269 

The  preliminary  preparations — harnessing,  saddling, 
etc. — for  the  race  itself  are  conducted  in  the  paddock,  and 
the  "warming-up"  is  done  on  the  way  to  the  post,  a  cer- 
tain number  of  minutes  being  allowed  for  that  purpose. 
In  the  paddock  there  is  a  noticeable  scarcity  of  blankets 
and  other  supposed  necessities  of  a  trotting  equipment. 
The  horses  were  walked  without  covering,  and  there  was 
an  entire  absence  of  bandages  and  leg  washes.  The  boots 
appeared  to  be  of  American  manufacture,  were  neat  and 
well-fitting,  and  that  was  about  the  only  thing  of  trotting 
equipment  which  seemed  to  be  used  with  the  same  intel- 
ligence and  to  the  same  extent  as  in  America. 

The  crude  actions  of  the  grooms  and  trainers  in  the 
handling  of  the  horses,  plainly  indicated  a  lack  in  the  busi- 
ness of  that  familiarity  so  universal  with  American  pro- 
fessionals. An  American  artistic  "swipe"  would  be  dis- 
gusted with  their  bungling,  and,  as  he  would  express  it, 
"shoemaker  work."  As  an  illustration  of  the  crude  meth- 
ods in  vogue,  I  will  cite  one  instance,  which  was  undoubt- 
edly an  exceptional  one,  inasmuch  as  the  colt  in  question 
had  quarter  boots  on  his  hind  feet,  presumably  used  to 
perform  the  scalping  boot  functions.  There  was  a  small 
black  three-year-old  French-bred  trotter  in  third  event  on 
the  card.  At  least  two  hours  before  his  race  came  on 
the  colt  was  saddled  and  booted.  His  rider  mounted  and 
during  the  whole  period  continued  riding  him  in  the  ring 
of  the  paddock  until  called  for  his  race.  The  rider 
weighed  probably  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds, 
and  seemed  oblivious  to  the  evil  effects  which  were 
bound  to  result  from  such  treatment.  Of  course  the  colt, 
although  well  thought  of,  could  show  nothing  of  his  well- 
known  speed  in  the  race,  and  his  backers  and  admirers 
could  not  account   for  the  poor  showing.     The  veriest 


270  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

novice  in  this  country  would  have  "put  the  copper  on" 
in  his  betting,  under  the  circumstances,  and  been  able  to 
tell  the  real  reason  for  defeat  after  the  race. 

There  is  a  signal  given  in  the  paddock  when  a  cer- 
tain race  is  called,  so  many  minutes  are  allowed  to  get 
ready,  then  the  next  signal  is  to  go  through  the  track 
gate  for  the  starting  post,  which  is  on  the  back-stretch 
and  quite  a  half-mile  from  the  stand.  So  many  minutes 
are  allowed  for  warming  up,  and  on  the  third  signal  every 
horse  must  be  in  his  position  to  take  the  word.  If  a 
minute  behind  he  is  "lost  in  the  shuffle"  and  not  allowed 
to  start,  and  besides  his  driver  is  disciplined. 

In  "warming  up"  most  of  the  riders  use  lamentable 
judgment.  They  will  "hazarack"  their  horses  up  and 
down  at  their  highest  rate,  then  go  directly  from  such 
exercise  to  the  post,  their  charges  winded  before  the  real 
race  commences.  What  seems  extraordinary  is  that  they 
do  not  appear  to  learn  from  the  example  set  by  such  suc- 
cessful men  as  Brown  and  Weeks,  whose  methods  are  so 
radically  different.  Yet  all  look  upon  Brown  as  a  sort 
of  wizard  in  the  business,  and  his  ability  receives  great 
homage  from  the  native  trainers,  without,  however,  hav- 
ing the  effect  of  teaching  them  the  superiority  of  his 
methods.  They  appear  to  regard  his  ability  as  an  occult 
faculty  born  in  him,  and  do  not  ascribe  his  success  to 
superior  methods  of  training  and  driving.  Another  strik- 
ingly singular  matter  is  the  great  difference  in  the  speed 
of  the  contestants  in  a  race.  It  is  not  an  unusual  thing 
to  see  some  of  the  horses  more  than  half  a  mile  behind 
the  leaders  at  the  finish,  yet  they  come  straggling  in  un- 
der whip  and  spur  to  the  last  inch  of  the  course.  I  am 
not  sure  but  that  the  French  rule  requires  this ;  at  all 
events  it  seems  the  practice. 


ANDY    AND    I.  27 1 

I  do  not  remember  the  number  of  "metres"  in  tin 
course  at  Vincennes.  It  is,  however,  equivalent  to  about 
one  mile  and  three-quarters  in  length,  is  on  the  sod,  and 
there  are  a  number  of  stiff  grades  to  negotiate.  Curb 
bits  are  used  exclusively  in  the  saddle  races,  and  are 
cruelly  put  into  execution  in  case  an  unlucky  steed  should 
make  a  break;  at  other  times  the  bridle  reins  hang  use- 
lessly on  the  neck  of  the  horse,  the  driver  giving  no  as- 
sistance whatever  in  the  way  of  steadying  and  controlling 
his  charge.  In  fact,  about  the  only  assistance  the  driver 
does  give  is  a  free  use  of  the  whip  and  spur  at  "every 
stage  of  the  game,"  and  independent  of  his  position ; 
whether  away  ahead  or  away  behind,  it  is  a  continual 
"drive"  from  start  to  finish. 

Is  it  any  wonder,  then,  that  their  native-bred  horses 
acquire  an  indescribable  "get  there  Eli"  hurry  gait,  now 
trotting  behind  and  half  running  forward,  then  "shifting 
the  cut"  and  reversing  the  order  by  trotting  forward  and 
running  behind,  rarely,  however,  entirely  "leaving  their 
feet"  and  galloping  at  both  ends  at  the  same  time. 

The  official  and  only  betting  recognized  by  law  is 
done  by  the  French  mutual  system.  It  is  conducted  by 
the  government,  which  derives  an  immense  revenue  from 
the  "privilege,"  for  the  French  are  bettors  from  "way 
back."  Betting  stations  are  located  all  over  the  grounds, 
each  having  tickets  on  sale  for  a  specified  price.  For 
instance,  at  one  station  only  tickets  costing  five  hundred 
francs  each  are  sold,  but  at  others  one  hundred,  fifty, 
twenty-five,  and  all  the  way  down  to  one-franc  tickets  are 
sold.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  race  all  the  purchases 
made  at  the  different  stations  go  into  one  common  pool 
and  are  divided  pro-rata,  the  one-franc  fellow  getting  ex- 
actly the  same  proportionate  winnings  as  the  one-hun- 


272  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

dred  franc  bettor  does.  But  that  is  not  all  the  betting 
done,  for  at  the  fall  of  the  starter's  flag  bedlam  breaks 
loose  and  every  Frenchman  constitutes  himself  a  commit- 
tee of  one,  empowered,  authorized,  expected  and  required 
to  make,  in  the  wonderful  gibberish  only  possible  to  a 
native  of  France,  every  conceivable  betting  proposition 
and  as  loud  as  he  can.  This  bedlam  continues  until  the 
last  horse  is  whipped  and  spurred  under  the  wire,  for 
there  is  no  proposition  "too  tough  an  angle"  for  French- 
men to  bet  upon,  provided  you  give  them  sufficient  odds. 
One  horse  may  be  an  eighth  of  a  mile  ahead  of  another 
and  have  only  one  hundred  yards  more  to  go,  but  a 
French  trotting-horse  crank  will  bet  that  the  horse  behind 
will  win  if  you  give  him  odds  enough — it's  only  a  question 
of  odds  with  him. 

But,  to  conclude  this  long,  desultory  letter,  I  want  to 
say  that  when  Buford  and  other  American  horses  stepped 
upon  the  track,  in  the  great  international  free-for-all,  it 
brought  a  thrill  of  pride  and  patriotism  to  both  Andy  and 
myself.  The  Russian  trotters,  although  far  and  away 
superior  to  the  French  products  in  appearance,  looked 
very  cheap  when  compared  with  the  American.  And 
when  it  came  to  trotting — why,  the  others  "weren't  in  it." 
The  American  horses  went  like  trotters — square  and  true 
and  frictionless.  None  of  that  "hop-and-go -fetch-it,"  la- 
bored way  that  characterized  all  the  others.  I  wonder 
what  they  think  in  their  own  minds  over  there  when  they 
compare  the  genuine  with  the  counterfeit ;  the  difference 
between  the  finished  article  and  the  crude,  inferior,  raw 
material.  It  must  be  mightily  discouraging — if  anything 
ever  really  does  discourage  a  Frenchman. 

But — mark  the  prediction — ten  years  from  now — and 
sooner,  if  intolerant  preachers,  and  cackling  old  women 


ANDY    AND    I. 


273 


are  permitted  a  continuance  of  their  present  successful 
efforts  against  the  sport  of  this  country — France  will  be 
the  trotting  nation  of  the  world.  There  were  30,000  peo- 
ple in  attendance  the  day  we  were  there  and  every  one — 
including  Andy  and  myself — went  wild  with  enthusiasm. 
So  far  as  the  management  and  control  of  the  sport  is  con- 
cerned, their  associations  are  now  fifty  years  ahead  of  the 
Americans.  They  are  that  far  behind  us  in  horseman- 
ship. I  do  not  believe  the  French  to  be  a  nation  of  nat- 
ural horsemen,  and  that  is  their  handicap.  If  it  were  not 
for  discriminating  and  hostile  practices  against  the  Amer- 
ican trotters,  in  not  allowing  them  to  compete  against  their 
products,  France  would  to-day  be  a  veritable  land  of  gold 
for  American  trainers  and  American  trotters. 

(Copyrighted  by  "The  Horseman"  and  published  by  permission) . 


There  was  once  a  ditty  about  the  Maumee  as  fetching 
in  its  day  as  is  now  the  refrain  entitled  "On  the  Banks  of 
the  Wabash,"  but  not  so  sentimental,  for  it  ran : 

The  potatoes  they  grow  small 

On  the  Maumee, 
And  they  dig  them  in  the  fall. 
And  they  eat  them  skins  and  all, 

On  the  Maumee. 

That  was  many,  many  years  ago,  and  now,  instead  of 
the  old  blockhouse,  the  beautiful  and  prosperous  city  of 
Toledo  is  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  classic  stream. 


KLATAWA'S   DIARY. 


One  of  America's  leading  trainers  and  drivers  made 
frequent  reports  to  the  owner  of  a  champion.  The  cham- 
pion "got  next"  to  these  reports,  and  the  following  is  his 
diary,  which  was  found  in  his  stall,  at  Lexington,  at  the 
close  of  the  racing  season  in  1898. 

Denver,  June  19. — I'm  only  three  years  old.  I  came 
from  the  sunny  land  of  gold.  I  was  born  on  a  beautiful 
ranch  at  the  foot  of  grand  Mount  Diablo.  I  came  here 
several  days  ago  in  charge  of  a  good,  kind  man  who 
knows  a  horse,  respects  his  feelings,  and,  oh  my,  how  he 
can  drive  one !  A  nag  has  to  love  and  do  his  best  for 
him,  as  I've  always  done.  And  can't  I  go !  I  can  fly 
and  beat  the  other  fellows,  and  I  know  it.  To-day  my 
trainer  came  into  the  stall  and  said  to  me  "I  have  written 
a  letter  to  your  owner  and  I  do  not  mind  reading  it  to 
you."  I  can  not  remember  all  the  good  things  he  said, 
but  it  made  me  awfully  proud,  and  here  are  some  of 
them : 

"It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  report  regarding  the 
first  start  of  your  great  colt  here  last  Friday.  At  the  time 
I  hardly  thought  him  up  to  a  hard  race.  It  was  a  miser- 
able day,  the  wind  blowing  a  gale  and  the  dust  flying  so 
you  scarcely  saw  the  horse  you  were  driving.  He  drew 
last  position  in  a  field  of  nine.  I  was  sure  he  won  the 
first  heat  in  2  114,  but,  owing  to  the  dust,  he  got  the  worst 
of  the  decision.  In  the  second  heat  he  was  just  beaten 
in  2:12^.  Won  the  third  in  2:15^  (the  second  quarter 
being  in  just  thirty  seconds);  the  fourth  in  2:14,  and 


klatawa's  diary.  275 

the  fifth  in  2:14^,  pulled  up  to  a  walk.  He  was  full  of 
play  when  being  led  to  the  stable  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  race.  He  will  start  in  the  three-year-old  race  here 
also,  and  will  win  easily  (which  I  did.)  I  shall  not  be 
surprised  if  he  takes  a  record  of  2  \oj  this  season." 

Peoria,  111.,  July  15. — I  didn't  do  a  thing  to  them  to- 
day, I  guess.  My  trainer  gave  me  a  bundle  of  sweet 
grass  and  corn  blades,  patting  me  on  the  neck,  and  praised 
me  so  much  I  fear  he  will  turn  my  head  and  make  it  too 
big  for  the  bridle.  I  did  not  see  any  letter,  but  he  said 
he  telegraphed  my  owner  like  this :  "I  congratulate  you 
on  owning  the  greatest  colt  in  the  world.  He  won  in 
straight  heats,  2  :oy^4,  2  109,  2  :o6*4-" 

Detroit,  July  17. — He  couldn't  get  over  my  great  per- 
formance at  Peoria,  and,  overlooking  his  shoulder,  I  read 
what  he  wrote  my  owner : 

"Your  colt  is  probably  the  best  horse  in  the  world. 
Judging  from  his  Peoria  race,  from  which  he  came  out 
as  fresh  as  a  daisy,  I  expect  to  give  him  a  record  of  2  :03 
or  2  104  before  the  year  is  over.  He  is  the  gamest  one 
I  ever  saw,  and  such  men  as  James  A.  Murphy,  owner  of 
Star  Pointer;  M.  E.  McHenry  and  others  say  they  never 
saw  one  like  him,  and  I  congratulate  you  on  breeding  such 
a  record  breaker." 

Cleveland,  July  6. — I  had  a  new  driver  to-day,  and 
he  was  pretty  slick  himself.  I  won  in  four  heats.  In 
the  last  one  I  simply  made  my  competitors  look  like  thirty 
cents.  He  said  to  my  groom  that  I  was  the  only  pacing 
horse;  the  others  were  short-stops  (whatever  that  means) 
to  me,  and  my  driver  accordingly  wrote  to  my  breeder : 
"I  think  him  the  greatest  colt  the  world  has  ever  produced. 
He  is  absolutely  sound  and  as  fine  as  possible.  I  expect 
him  to  lower  his  present  record  two  seconds  at  least,  and 


276  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

think  the  public  will  then  appreciate  the  products  of  your 
farm,  especially  when  taking  into  consideration  Diablo, 
Derby  Princess,  Agitato,  Owyhee,  etc.  I  hear  of  a  fast 
one  East  they  call  Sylvanway,  three-year-old,  that  it  is 
claimed  can  go  in  2:14." 

Glens  Falls,  August  25. — They  can't  keep  a  good  horse 
down.  I  wanted  to  be  let  loose  to-day,  and  how  I  would 
have  stepped ;  but  a  keen  cut,  thoroughbred,  little  fellow 
with  a  light  hand  and  a  knowing  look,  kept  taking  me 
back,  saying:  "Old  fellow,  not  to-day,  not  to-day;  but 
when  we  get  to  Terre  Haute  we'll  simply  drown  them." 
I  understand  he  is  McHenry,  "McHenry  of  Freeport," 
they  call  him,  or  "Smooth  Myron,"  as  one  swipe  re- 
marked. Well,  all  I  have  to  say  is  that  he  knows  how 
to  handle  a  horse,  and  he's  a  smart  man.  I  know  that, 
for  he  remarked  to  a  gentleman  in  my  hearing  that  I 
could  "make  a  monkey  of  any  pacer  in  the  country  and 
do  it,  too,  in  his  four-year-old  form."  When  I  got  back 
to  my  old  friend  and  trainer  he  showed  me  this  letter : 

"He  won  at  Dubuque,  driven  by  McHenry,  in  straight 
heats.  I  was  undecided  whether  to  instruct  him  to  give 
the  colt  a  fast  record  then,  but  concluded  on  waiting  for 
Terre  Haute,  where,  if  he  proves  himself  king  of  all  pac- 
ers I  shall  not  be  surprised.  McHenry  wires  that  he 
could  easily  have  lowered  his  record  at  Dubuque.  I 
worked  him  the  last  half  of  a  mile  before  he  was  shipped 
in  just  one  minute  flat,  and  there's  no  telling  where  he 
will  step  in  a  few  weeks  if  nothing  happens." 

Terre  Haute,  September  22. — I  was  rushed  over  here 
from  Independence,  where  I  won  easily,  without  having  a 
chance  at  my  diary  until  now.  It's  raining  pitchforks, 
pointed  ends  down,  and  we  feel  blue,  because  I'm  awfully 
good,  and  the  man  from  Freeport  promised  to  turn  me 
loose  here.     My  trainer  wrote : 


kxatawa's  diary.  277 

"He  won  again  at  Independence  as  he  pleased.  This 
is  the  day  he  was  to  start  here,  but  rain  caused  a  post- 
ponement, and  it  looks  now  like  there  would  be  no  more 
races  at  this  meeting,  for  which  I  am  more  than  sorry, 
as  McHenry,  who  has  driven  him  in  his  last  two  races,  is 
confident  he  can  go  in  2  103.  He  is  in  grand  form,  and 
is  as  handsome  as  can  be.  If  he  gets  no  start  I  shall  let 
him  step  at  Louisville." 

Louisville,  October  7. — My  trainer  is  an  honest,  capa- 
ble man  consistent  and  candid,  one  everybody  respects  and 
every  horse  loves.  I  know  he  wouldn't  speak  a  word 
he  didn't  mean.  Whoever  may  read  my  diary  can  make 
a  shrewd  guess  as  to  his  identity.  I  didn't  get  a  start 
at  Terre  Haute  on  account  of  the  weather,  so  was  shipped 
over  here.  It  had  been  raining  here,  too,  so  the  track 
was  a  little  soft,  and  I  had  to  go  against  the  greatest  ag- 
gregation of  fast  aged  horses  that  ever  came  together. 
I  won  the  first  heat,  but  could  not  "march"  as  I  could 
have  done  at  some  other  times.  I  think  it  was  because 
I  didn't  have  a  chance  to  practice  for  the  past  ten  days. 
I  got  "downed"  for  the  first  time  this  year,  but  although 
defeated,  I  do  not  give  up  yet,  and  I  was  against  the  best 
in  the  land,  and  it  is  no  discredit.  Besides,  I  put  up  the 
fastest  mile  ever  made  by  one  of  my  age  in  the  world, 
2:053^.  They  say  it's  the  most  wonderful  feat  of  light 
harness  racing  history.  But  I  can  do  a  lot  better,  and 
I  know  it.  The  next  time  I  turn  around  with  those  fel- 
lows I  will  show  them  which  tree  makes  shingles ;  and 
next  year — well,  wait. 


Match  trotting  for  bona  fide  stakes  is  almost  obsolete. 


A   SPEEDWAY   INCIDENT. 


They  had  just  come  into  Durando's.  The  representa- 
tive from  Pataloosa  Valley  had  ordered  the  drinks  all 
around,  and  this  is  the  way  he  explained  it,  as  they  sipped 
the  hot  Scotch : 

"Say,  boys,  it's  on  me,  and  that's  why  I'm  doing  these 
honors.  But  you  all  saw  that  white  streak  go  up  the 
Speedway,  and  you  saw  he  'didn't  do  a  thing  to  me,'  so 
it's  my  treat;  but  I'll  tell  you  the  inside  of  it.  I  brought 
my  trotter  Pataloosa  Bill  down  here  to  show  them  on  the 
Speedway  how  it's  done.  Well,  the  first  day  I  showed 
them ;  and  then  as  I'd  heard  so  many  claim  they  had  the 
'King  of  the  Speedway,'  I  thought  I  was  due  to  chip  in 
and  claim  the  title  for  Bill.  There  was  a  feller  here  in 
the  barroom — I  don't  claim  he  was  drinkin',  only  lookin' 
on — who  was  listenin'  for  fair  to  what  I  was  sayin'. 
Presently,  and  confidentially,  he  called  me  aside  and 
asked :  'Look  here,  son,  do  you  really  believe  that  Pata- 
loosa Bill  is  King  of  the  Speedway  ?  Now  do  you  really 
believe  it  ?  He  was  a  well-made  feller  with  a  deep  chest- 
tone  voice,  was  the  speaker,  and  a  rather  voluminous 
chestnut  moustache,  with  sort  of  grey-  eyes  that  didn't 
make  him  appear  that  he  was  greatly  in  need  of  a  guar- 
dian. Nevertheless  I  sort  of  took  pity  on  him,  as  I  an- 
swered :  "Now,  look  here,  pard,  do  you  think  I'd  come 
round  here  blowin'  my  bugle  and  chuckin'  a  bluff?  Do 
I  look  that  kind  ?  I'd  want  you  to  know  I'm  from  Pata- 
loosa, and  Pataloosa  is  way  up  the  Creek,  close  to  the 
headwaters,  and  the  town  is  named  after  creek,  see?  (I 
learned  that  final  to  a  sentence  since  I   came  to  New 


A    SPEEDWAY    INCIDENT.  279 

York.)  We  know  what  trotters  is  in  my  country,  and  if 
any  stranger  should  holler  loud  in  that  section,  that  Bill, 
Pataloosa  Bill — by  Birdcatcher  out  of  Nest  Egg — isn't 
a  trotter,  the  chances  are  that  there'd  be  prechin'  in  his 
house  and  he  wouldn't  hear  it,  see  ?  Because  we're  proud 
of  Bill  in  Pataloosa.' 

"But  somehow  the  chestnut  moustache  didn't  drop  off, 
and  the  grey  eyes  sorter  twinkled  a  smile — a  Bill  Heiser 
grin. 


a 


Charley  said — I  got  well  acquainted  with  him  after- 
wards, and  his  name  is  Charley  Thompson — with  a  kind 
of  an  Independence   (Iowa)   air  about  him, 

"It  don't  make  much  difference  where  you  nor  your 
horse  hails  from.  I  don't  say  he  isn't  King  of  the  Speed- 
way, but  let  me  tell  you  something:  If  he  is  he's 
greased  lightning  on  a  toboggon  slide,  that's  all.  Now  I 
have  a  horse  I  dreamed  last  night  was  entitled  to  that 
throne  and  he  don't  want  to  abdicate  till  he  sees  some- 
thing, see?  The  path  is  still  there  and  I'll  meet  you  to- 
morrow, not  after,  but  before  the  'sun  goes  down,'  and 
we  will  see  who  is  mistakin',  you  or  I." 

"And  we  did,  and  Charley  made  good.  I  hadn't  been 
long  in  New  York  before  I  found  that  it  was  the  fashion 
to  get  the  best  of  the  start  all  one  could,  and  I  am  thinkin' 
that  that  method  has  considerable  to  do  with  many  of  the 
claims  of  gentlemen  about  ownin'  the  'King  of  the  Speed- 
way.' So  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I'd  get  the  drop  on 
Independence  Charley,  so  I  did  about  six  or  seven  lengths, 
lookin'  back  meanwhile  and  saying  come  on,  I  can't  hold 
Bill  back.  All  I  saw  was  a  streak  of  white.  He  went 
past  me'  like  the  Empire  State  Express  would  go  past  a 
bow-legged  tramp  looking  for  work.  Here's  to  us,  have 
another." 

That  white  streak  was  Carlvle  Carne. 


SEVENTY  DOLLARS. 


In  1895,  at  Lexington,  when  the  bottom  was  clean 
out  of  the  trotting  business,  a  son  of  the  "Green  Isle" 
who  had  emigrated  to  the  "Blue  Grass"  when  a  boy,  drift- 
ing naturally  into  the  breeding  business — and  when  the 
"pinch"  came,  made  the  inevitable  "dispersal"  sale — there 
was  offered  in  his  three-quarter  starved  consignment  a 
rakish  two-year-old  dark  bay  filly,  sharp  of  withers, 
deep  through  the  heart,  rather  flat  ribbed — in  short,  of  the 
Lady  Thorne  type.  The  hair  on  her  was  inches  long,  her 
tail,  though  long  and  rather  light,  was  carried  right,  and 
she  was  of  tissue-paper  thinness.  You  could  almost  blow 
your  breath  through  her,  and  in  the  strong  sunlight  she 
would  have  to  stand  twice  in  one  place  to  make  a  shadow. 
"That's  the  best  filly  that  stands  in  Kentucky,"  asserted 
her  breeder,  and  the  audience  smiled  with  incredulity. 
Up  and  down  the  sale  stable  she  stepped;  clean,  clipper- 
gaited  and  true.  She  was  so  awfully  poor  though,  that 
no  one  wanted  her.  She  was  not  fashionably,  yet  well 
bred,  being  by  an  obscure  son  of  Young  Jim,  whose  dam 
was  a  thoroughbred;  and  out  of  a  mare  by  an  equally 
obscure  son  of  Mambrino  Patchen,  and  her  dam  in  turn 
of  Pilot  breeding.  Neither  the  sire  or  dam  approached 
standard  breeding.  Finally  she  was  knocked  down  at 
$30.  The  purchaser  was  a  mountaineer  who  had  brought 
a  "bunch"  of  pigs  to  the  Lexington  stock  yards  and  sold 
them.  He  took  her  home,  'way  down  in  the  Cumberland 
Mountain  country,  used  her  to  plow  his  corn  and  potato 


SEVENTY    DOLLARS.  281 

patch,  and  broke  her  to  saddle.  She  wouldn't  "rack/' 
she  wouldn't  "lope,"  she  wouldn't  "fox  trot,"  nor  "run- 
ning walk,"  but  she  would  trot  and  wouldn't  do  anything 
else.  Of  course,  that  didn't  constitute  a  saddle  horse 
from  a  Kentuckian's  standpoint,  and  as  a  result  her  du- 
ties were  confined  to  the  plow  most  of  the  time  as  the 
"off"  horse,  her  companion  on  the  "lead"  side  being  a 
superannuated  and  good-natured  mule ;  and  for  the  boys 
to  ride  to  school  and  go  "sky-larking"  on  in  the  evenings. 
The  neighboring  boys  all  having  saddle  horses  that  could 
'saddle,"  of  course,  friendly  racing  was  a  common  prac- 
tice, and  it  soon  came  to  pass  that  the  trotting  bred  fillv 
could  more  than  hold  her  own  and  beat  anything  on 
'Cat's  Fork  or  Bain"  Creek;  but  she  went  on  a  trot  while 
her  competitors  went  at  the  gallop  and  ran  for  their  lives 
too. 

A  saddle-horse  dealer  of  many  years'  experience, 
scouring  the  mountain  regions  on  one  of  his  buying  pere- 
grinations, heard  of  the  phenomenon,  and  on  telling  a 
trotting  horse  friend,  was  commissioned  to  buy  her  on  his 
next  trip,  which  he  did,  paying  the  enormous  sum  of 
seventy  dollars  as  a  consideration.  She  was  taken  to  a 
place  where  she  had  a  chance  to  wear  a  harness  and  be 
hitched  to  a  light-wheeled  vehicle,  and  she  could  simply 
burn  up  the  road.  As  her  old  buyer  said :  "I  done 
bought  that  thar  mar  for  you,  sah,  for  seventy  dollas,  and 
dog  on  my  cats  she's  worth  seven  thousand  any  whar  on 
the  face  of  the  vearth." 


Unless  a  starter  can  inspire  confidence,  he  is  working 
outside  his  mission. 


IN  BRET  HARTE'S  COUNTRY. 


In  each  trip  I  have  made  to  and  from  California,  I 
have  kept  a  weather  eye  out  for  the  romantic  argonautic 
characters  so  dramatically  portrayed  by  Bret  Harte  and 
Mark  Twain.  But  romantic  border  heroism  and  border 
chivalry  ceased  to  exist  when  the  trail  was  abandoned,  and 
the  puffing  of  the  engine  superseded  the  crack  of  the  whip 
lash  and  the  adventurous  glory  of  the  overland  stage 
days.  There  are,  also,  no  more  John  Oakhursts,  Sandy 
McGees  or  Yuba  Bills.  But  I  did  see  a  Colonel  Starbot- 
tle,  dignified,  courteous,  suave  and  warm-hearted ;  dis- 
tinguished, effusive;  florid  of  face  and  speech  and  grandly 
pompous ;  courtly  and  portly  and  elegant.  You  have  to 
fall  in  love  with  him,  can't  help  it — he  was  the  solicitor 
for  the  railway  eating  house  at  Truckee.  He  wore  well- 
polished  boots,  hands  in  his  striped  trousers  pockets,  fancy 
vest  of  loud  pattern,  slouch  hat,  black  shiny  low-rolling 
collar,  coat  that  had  seen  better  days,  a  big  chain  and 
gold  watch  charm,  chin  whiskers  and  a  thin,  feeble  mus- 
tache. ("Starbottles"  invariably  have  a  fair  crop  of  short 
chin  whiskers  and  a  slight  mustache — that  is  one  way 
you  tell  them.)  Having  eaten,  I  sauntered  out  on  the 
platform,  when  a  tall,  dark  man,  somewhat  grizzly,  in 
shirt  sleeves,  riding  a  good-looking  sorrel  horse,  with  his 
coat  thrown  across  the  pommel  of  a  Mexican  saddle, 
alighted  back  of  "Starbottle"  and  giving  that  gentleman 
an  unexpected  whack  on  the  back  with  his  left  hand,  he 
stuck  his  right  around  in  front  for  a  shake,  at  the  same 


IX  BRET  harte's  country.  283 

time,  saying,  "Fo'  God,  majah,  I'm  right  down  glad  to 
see  you,  sah." 

And  the  "Majah"  was  equally  glad  if  wonderfully 
surprised :  "Tome,  by  God  sah,  where  on  earth  did  you 
all  come  from,  anyhow,  sah?" 

Then  I  knew  both  were  Kentuckians.  ("Tome"  is 
Kentucky  for  Tom  you  know),  and  the  shaking  of  hands 
"was  a  plenty." 

The  bell  rang,  the  engine  wheezed,  breathed,  snorted 
and  the  train  slowly  moved.  I  jumped  on  the  platform 
of  the  rear  car,  while  the  friends,  hand  in  hand,  started 
for  a  door  over  wThich  was  a  sign  of  six  bold  letters  re- 
splendent with  red  and  yellow  paint — "Saloon." 

Don't  you  think  there  was  a  toddy  or  two — or  more 
— that  changed  residence  from  the  bottle  to  the  mouths 
of  those  old  "Kentucky  friends,  sah." 

"I  saw  you  looking  at  Major  Joe  Husband  and  Tom 
Redmon  on  the  platform  back  there,"  said  the  porter,  a 
bright  colored  boy,  "do  you  know  who  they  are?" 

"No,  but  I'd  like  to ;  and  moreover,  I'd  like  to  be  with 
them  a  few  minutes  right  now,"  I  answered,  for  visions 
of  whiskey  toddies  came  to  my  mind,  and  I  could  almost 
imagine  the  clinky  sound  of  the  spoon  and  the  ice  in  the 
glass  as  they  slowly  dissolved  the  sugar — at  least,  that's 
the  way  they  tell  me  it's  done  at  the  "Phcenix"  in  Lex- 
ington— and  somehow  the  warm  but  courteous  and  dig- 
nified manner  of  those  two  old  men  marked  them  gentle- 
men in  any  land.  Gentlemen  from  a  State  of  gentle- 
men, no  matter  where  you  meet  them,  nor  how  long  ago 
they  left  the  "Blue  Grass,"  always  gentlemen.  God's  sun 
doesn't  shine  on  a  spot  where  there  is  more  true  chivalry 
than  in  "old  Kentucky." 


284  TALKS   OF   THE   TURF. 

The  porter  told  me  in  substance  that  both  Husband 
and  Redmon  were  celebrated  characters ;  both  had  been 
prominent  young  actors  in  the  stirring  events  of  the  trou- 
blesome days — stage  drivers,  pony  express  riders,  miners, 
and,  later,  Indian  scouts.  Now  one  solicits  for  a  rail- 
road eating-house  and  the  other  is  a  grub  stake  prospector. 

"Husband  has  three  men  on  his  stick  and  Redmon 
two,  besides  a  lot  of  Indians — but  Indians  don't  count 
out  here  in  these  days,"  said  the  porter. 

Of  Bret  Harte's  female  characters — the  Mlis'es  and 
Miggleses,  etc.,  I  saw  a  number. 

And  I  also  saw  the  girl  (name  forgotten)  from  Pov- 
erty Flat  who  wrote  that  charming  love  letter  in  poetry, 
while  sojourning  in  Paris  (whither  she'd  gone,  after  her 
father  struck  it  rich,  to  acquire  polish  "and  all  that")  to 
her  poor  admirer  back  in  the  Gulch ;  the  conclusion  being 
to  the  effect  that  though  she  had 

"Danced  with  nobility  and  all  that, 
Still,  some  how  Joe,  I'm  thinking 
of  you  and  the  good  old  days 

For  my  heart  is  back  there,  and 

You've  struck  it,  Joe,  at  Poverty  Flat." 

They  are  all  of  a  type,  and  can  be  seen  at  almost  any 
considerable  stopping  point  from  Laramie  to  Sacramento. 
Untrammeled  by  corset,  unembellished  by  pads,  her 
form's  her  own,  not  by  reason  of  artificial  appliances  but 
by  right  of  nature's  handwork  and  outdoor  freedom. 
Lithe,  supple  and  graceful,  slender  and  straight;  great 
black  eyes,  head  thrown  back,  a  white  collar  and  im- 
maculate cuffs ;  neat  and  tasty  in  everything ;  fresh  and 
sweet,  without  powder  or  "liquid  complexion  wrash."  She 
is  modesly  free  and  independent  and  unaffected,  calls  a 
Chinaman  a  Chinaman,  and  if  she  likes  you  she  says  so ; 


IN    BRET    HARTE'S    COUNTRY.  285 

if  she  doesn't  she  doesn't.  Were  she  to  hear  some  of  the 
insipid,  insincere,  snobbish,  English  aping-  gush  of  her 
Eastern  sisters  somethink  like  this:  "Aw,  my  deah,  deah 
Miss  Mushroom,  very,  very  delighted,  awfully  charmed, 
I  assure  you  doncherknow" — she'd  think  it  was  Greek; 
or  that  the  speaker  was  a  freak  fresh  from  some  dime 
museum.  If  she  knew  the  real  depth  of  deceit  covered 
by  this  imbecile  tissue  of  exaggerated  English  affection, 
she'd  feel  like  turning  the  hose,  filled  with  alkali  water 
of  Bitter  Creek,  on  her.  Then  when  she  meets  a  friend 
and  kisses  her — I  didn't  see  an  illustration  of  the  opera- 
tion on  a  subject  of  the  opposite  sex — she  kisses;  no 
crosslot  kiss  or  canary  bird  peck,  do-it-quick-and-get- 
away-from-me-variety,  but  a  good,  genuine  sincere  old 
North  American  unaffected  delicious  lingering  kiss — my 
but  how  a  fellow  hankers  for  one  himself.  And  it  is 
beautiful  to  see  the  chivalrous  respect  accorded  her  by  the 
sterner  sex  of  all  degrees,  from  the  millionaire  mine  own- 
er or  cattle-man  to  the  cow-bov  herder. 


There  is  no  money  worth  talking  about  to  be  made  by 
either  the  horse  owner  or  the  track  owner  in  harness 
racing.  An  expensive  plant  has  to  be  maintained  gener- 
ally three  hundred  and  sixty  days  in  unprofitable  idleness, 
to  be  ready  for  use  the  other  five  days  of  the  year.  Under 
such  conditions  no  association  can  hold  its  own  and  scale 
down  its  entrance  fees  to  anything  like  the  standard  in 
vogue  on  the  running  turf.  Six  and  a  quarter  per  cent, 
looks  to  be  exorbitant  when  you  are  making  an  entry,  but 
it  isn't  half  so  big  when  you  are  running  the  meeting. 


THE   OLD   PLAN   THE   BEST. 


(Published  in  the  "Trotter  and  Pacer,"  January  1,  1899.) 


The  mile  and  repeat  plan  has  often  been  tried  and  has 
never  proved  a  success.  Associations  that  now  have  the 
most  successful  meetings  every  year  have  all  tried  two- 
in-three  heat  racing,  and  you  notice  they  don't  put  them 
on  their  programmes  now.  It  was  tried  at  old  Fleetwood 
Park;  Cleveland  has  tried  it;  Terre  Haute  and  other 
places  have  given  it  a  trial  without  success.  I  may  be 
old  fogyish,  but  there  is  a  higher  aim  in  the  breeding 
and  racing  of  the  trotting  horse  .than  to  make  of  him  a 
medium  for  gambling,  which  I  see  is  one  of  the  argu- 
ments in  favor  of  shortening  the  heats.  I  regard  the  trot- 
ter too  highly  for  that.  Those  whose  want  to  bet  can  do  so, 
as  it  is,  and  I  am  opposed  to  anything  that  will  offer 
any  stronger  gambling  inducements. 

If  associations  wish  to  shorten  their  programmes,  let 
them  give  fewer  races.  Let  them  have  but  two  races 
during  an  afternoon.  That  will  give  at  least  six  heats, 
virtually  six  races,  and  probably  more.  As  soon  as  you 
begin  to  shorten  the  distance  the  horses  have  to  travel, 
horsemen  will  begin  to  breed  for  flights  of  speed,  to  the 
deterioration  of  stamina.  Instead  of  having  good,  game 
horses  that  are  able  to  go  mile  after  mile,  there  would 
soon  be  a  lot  of  soft  things,  that  would  quit  like  dogs  if 
pushed  to  their  speed  beyond  a  mile. 

Our  present  system  of  three-in-five  heat  racing  has 
been  evolved  by  leading  minds  in  the  trotting  horse  world 


THE    OLD    PLAN    THE    BEST.  287 

extending  over  a  period  of  fifty  years,  and  has  been  found 
to  be  about  the  fairest  test  of  speed  and  endurance.  What 
has  been  the  result?  We  have  to-day  trotters  that  can 
go  at  speed  many  miles  without  injury.  They  are  useful 
off  the  track,  able,  enduring,  every  ready  to  respond  when 
called  upon, — the  noblest  animal  on  earth. 

Could  as  much  have  been  said  if  our  breeders  had 
been  straining  purely  for  speed  at  short  distances?  Not 
at  all.  I  can  mention  certain  breeds  of  trotters  that  can 
go  at  a  wonderful  flight  of  speed  for  one  or  two  heats. 
They  are  good  for  nothing  else.  Yet  in  the  two  and 
three  heat  plan,  such  horses  would  win  all  the  money 
over  the  game  breeds  that  can  go  heat  after  heat  long 
after  these  flighty  ones  have  shot  their  bolt. 

I  am  also  opposed  to  sending  yearlings  and  two-year- 
olds  out  for  fast  records.  Even  three-year-olds  are  too 
young  to  be  raced  severely,  in  my  opinion.  They  seldom 
amount  to  anything  further.  Hardly  one  per  cent,  of 
them  ever  train  on.  I  can  at  present  recall  but  one  case 
where  a  youngster  has  trained  on  and  amounted  to  some- 
thing, and  that  is  Tommy  Britton.  I  remember  very  well 
when  it  was  considered  almost  a  sin  to  call  on  a  trotter 
for  full  speed  at  even  four  years  old,  and  a  horse  was 
only  considered  matured  sufficiently  for  the  severe  knocks 
of  the  race  track  at  eight  years.  Look  back  at  the  bruis- 
ing campaigns  which  such  famous  ones  as  Lady  Suffolk 
and  others  of  her  kind  were  able  to  stand.  That  sort 
stood  the  stiffest  kind  of  campaigning  year  after  year 
without  wearing  out.  We  have  them  to-day,  but  they 
are  pushed  to  the  limit  too  early  and  do  not  wear  as  long. 

The  only  argument  in  favor  of  the  two-in-three  heat 
system  is  that  it  would  be  easier  on  the  horses,  and  there 
is  not  so  much  in  it  at  that.     In  regard  to  attracting  larger 


288  TAI,ES   OF   THE   TURF. 

gate  receipts,  I  think  there  are  other  kinds  of  races  that 
would  prove  sufficiently  novel  to  attract  the  crowds.  I 
believe  a  saddle  race  would  prove  popular,  wagon  races 
driven  by  owners,  and  other  things  of  like  character  in 
connection  with  the  big  stake  and  purse  races  would  prove 
drawing  factors.  The  further  we  can  keep  away  from 
the  speculating  feature,  the  better  for  the  trotter. 


The  most  worthless  fraud  on  earth  is  a  stud  horse  bred 
to  trot  that  cannot  trot. 

Don't  cite  the  popularity  of  the  running  turf  to  prove 
the  benefits  and  purity  of  the  dash  system. 

Without  the  revenue  of  the  pooling  privilege,  no  asso- 
ciation can  make  an  adequate  profit  on  the  amount  in- 
vested in  a  track  and  its  appurtenances. 

When  a  man  says  his  horse  has  speed,  ask  him  what  is 
his  record.  If  he  has  not  a  record,  ask  why,  and  how  he 
knows  his  horse  is  fast.  If  he  hems  and  haws  around, 
making  this  excuse  and  that  one,  that  he  was  never 
trained,  that  he  intended  to  have  him  some  time,  that  he 
can  trot,  and  he  could  "prove  it  if  old  Bill  Jones  was 
alive,"  that  he  was  injured  when  a  colt,  etc.,  look  out  for 
that  man,  "he's  foolin'  ye."  Pass  him,  his  horse  and  his 
excuses  by,  and  find  one  that  has  been  trained  and  has  a 
record  to  show  his  speed. 


PAT   SHANK 


(Published  in  "The  American  Sportsman,"  January  S,  l.v.il. 


In  a  fertile  corner  of  Medina  County,  O.,  watered  by 
spring  brooks  and  rich  with  sweet  grapes  that  grow  upon 
the  gently  undulating  country  round  about,  where  the  air 
is  clear  and  bracing,  a  few  miles  from  the  romantic  and 
beautiful  sheet  of  crystal  water  called  Chippewa  Lake,  is 
the  little  hamlet  of  Litchfield,  and  in  Litchfield  resides 
"Pat"  Shank.     Perry  O.  Shank,  about  1856,  opened  his 
eyes  within  its  borders,  and  tradition  says  his  first  thought 
was  horse.     One  of  the  youngest  of  a  very  large  family, 
the  son  of  a  country  Baptist  preacher,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  say  that  the  lad  was  brought  up  in  the  path  he  should 
go  as  regards  morals  and  taught  to  "hustle"  in  all  his  un- 
dertakings. From  a  juvenile  tobacco-grower,  he  developed 
first  into  a  country  schoolmaster,  then,  following  the  path 
of  some  older  brothers,  into  a  full-fledged  trotting  horse 
man.      The  handsome  farm,  and  tidy  buildings  thereon, 
standing   on   the  tax   duplicate   in   his   name,    attest  his 
success  in  his  chosen  vocation.     It  is    singular    that   the 
ministerial  profession   and  a  love  for  horses  go  hand-in- 
hand,  but  that  this  affinity  exists  there  is  no  denying,  and 
a  good  preacher  is  almost  invariably  a  good  horseman. 
In  this  case  it  must  have  been  the  results  of  the  inevit- 
able law  of  heredity — a  cross  in  his  pedigree — for  of  the 
seven  brothers  personally  known  to  the  writer,  everyone 
are  horsemen,  and  good  horsemen  at  that.     Not  "horse 
jockeys"  in  the  general  acceptation  of  the  term,  for  they 
are  among  the  leading  men  in  their  community. 


290  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

Blessed  with  a  sunshiney  disposition  and  sanguine 
temperament,  with  a  kind  word  and  a  pleasant  smile  for 
everyone ;  no  wonder  that  all  the  pretty  country  girls  ad- 
mired the  handsome  little  school-teacher,  nor,  that  later 
on,  the  wild  and  timid  colts  almost  immediately  gave  him 
their  confidence.  To  gain  the  confidence  of  a  horse  is 
the  first  and  greatest  step  to  success,  and  a  faculty  that 
nature  has  been  niggardly  in  bestowing,  for  it  is  pos- 
sessed by  few  men.  Until  that  point  is  reached,  there  is 
no  need  of  trying  to  educate  a  horse ;  once  accomplished 
the  remainder  is  easy. 

"Pat"  Shank  certainly  possesses  it,  and  is  a  genius 
in  his  branch  of  the  profession,  that  of  breaking  and  edu- 
cating youngsters.  I  am  not  writing  of  a  man  who  has 
brought  his  jaded  horse  first  to  the  wire  in  many  a  bit- 
terly contested  grand  circuit  heat,  for  his  experience  in 
that  capacity  is  limited,  and  his  name  unknown  to  the 
world  who  have  witnessed  the  brilliant  drives  of  a  Doble, 
a  Hickok,  a  Goldsmith,  or  a  Geers.  But,  in  the  greater 
faculty,  if  the  more  obscure  one,  of  educating  a  colt  to 
trot,  Pat  Shank  need  yield  the  palm  to  no  man.  Others 
may  fit  a  developed  horse  into  better  condition ;  many  can 
drive  a  race  for  the  money,  possibly  better  than  Pat — but 
he  can  drive  for  my  money  at  that  in  any  company.  Oth- 
ers may  have  the  honor  and  glory  of  adepts  in  campaign- 
ing, but  the  quiet,  even-tempered  man  who  first  lays  hands 
on  a  colt,  and  teaches  him  to  step,  is  the  greater  genius, 
and  the  one  most  in  demand,  for  the  public  has  awakened 
to  the  fact  that  there  is  a  separate  branch  of  the  profes- 
sion. Had  we  more  such  men  there  would  be  more  trot- 
ters, fewer  hobblers  and  spoiled  colts,  among  the  many 
thousands  of  high-bred  ones  that  are  annually  produced. 


PAT    SHANK.  291 

The  writer  has  had  a  good  opportunity  of  watching 
the  different  methods  adopted  by  different  trainers,  and 
has  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  colt  himself  must  do 
much  of  his  own  training,  and  the  man  who  can  discern 
the  many  different  ways  that  the  many  differently  tem- 
pered youngsters  have  of  aiding  their  own  education,  is 
the  man  who  is  bound  to  succeed.  You  can  prepare  and 
condition  a  developed  trotter,  by  an  iron-clad  system  of 
.miles  at  a  certain  rate  at  certain  intervals,  repeats  so 
often  and  on  just  such  days,  but  you  can't  educate  a 
colt  by  any  such  set  of  rules.  You  can't  train  him  "by 
note"  as  it  were.  I've  seen  Pat  Shank  take  out  a  colt  with 
the  intention  of  speeding  him,  and  bring  him  back  to  his 
stall  before  he  had  gone  one  hundred  yards  away,  telling 
his  man  to  put  him  in  and  take  care  of  him,  as  he  was 
not  then  feeling  just  right  for  fast  work.  Shank  be- 
lieves in  letting  colts  trot  and  encouraging  them  to  trot 
when  they  want  to  trot  themselves,  and  frequent  short 
brushes  are  therefore  a  prime  factor  in  his  success. 

Some  of  our  ablest  trainers  and  drivers  have  never 
learned  this  trick,  but  try  to  educate  a  colt  by  the  same 
rule  they  condition  a  developed  trotter.  They  jog  him 
just  so  many  days  and  on  those  days  if  the  colt,  feeling 
in  him  the  instinct  to  do  what  he  is  bred  to  do,  attempt 
to  spurt  away,  he  is  taken  back,  for  that  is  not  on  that 
day's  programme.  He  will  be  given  a  certain  mile  or 
half-mile  at  a  certain  rate  and  certain  time,  with  a  con- 
templated repeat  on  a  certain  day.  In  the  interval  the 
colt  may  often  ask  to  be  let  to  step  along,  but  no,  that 
won't  do  then.  The  repeat  day  comes  and  the  colt  is 
harnessed.  If  he  happens  to  feel  real  well,  the  repeat 
does  him  some  good — although  not  the  best  system  for 
educating ;  but  if,   from   any  cause,  he  is  dumpish  and 


292  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

don't  feel  like  trying  to  trot,  making  him  trot  does  more 
harm  than  can  be  estimated;  and  it  is  this  iron-clad  sys- 
tem'that  fills  the  land  with  hitchers  and  hobblers  and  spoils 
hundreds  and  hundreds  of  promising  youngsters  that 
would,  under  more  intelligent  education,  be  shining  lights 
on  the  turf.  I'm  sorry  to  say  it  seems  to  be  the  pre- 
vailing system,  with  many  trainers  who  have  reached  the 
point  of  being  great  race  drivers. 

Go  to  Pat  Shank's  place  any  time  and  you  will  see 
speed — young  speed.  This  colt  and  that  one  are  brought 
out  and  harnessed ;  the  harness  may  not  be  so  expensive 
nor  the  vehicle  so  bright  and  clean,  but  the  youngster 
that  pulls  it  can  step,  and  step  like  a  "mechanic."  There 
will  be  a  woeful  poverty  of  hopples  and  spreaders 
and  this  and  that  new-fangled  patent  devilish  device  for 
torturing  youngsters,  that  have  been  spoiled  by  over- 
work, and  should  be  forgetting  the  evil  results  of  their 
mistreatment  in  pasture  fields  ;  the  mane  may  not  be  braid- 
ed with  ribbons  and  the  colt  covered  with  boots — worth 
more  in  many  cases  than  the  animals  wearing  them — but 
when  Pat  clucks  to  him  he  squares  away  with  the  even 
one-two-three-four  stroke  that  is  music  to  a  horse-lover's 
ears. 

Under  his  tuition  Oliver  K.,  2:16^,  learnt  his  first 
idea  of  speed;  Gray  Dave,  2:2234,  "stepped  some"  for 
the  first  time;  Newton  B.,  2:17%,  received  his  prelim- 
inary education  ;  Keokee,  2  :20%,  went  through  her  prim- 
mer ;  Wyandot,  2:19^,  won  a  bare-footed  two-year-old 
— his  first  race ;  Oakhurst,  2  129^4  ;  Hersey,  2  \2yy2  ;  Men- 
dicant, 2  132,  and  many  others  started  their  education  on 
Pat  Shank's  half-mile  track  and  under  his  cunning  hand 
proved  that  almost  any  trotting-bred  colt  can,  by  intelli- 
gent treatment,  be  educated  to  trot. 


HEAT   BETTING. 


(Published  in  the  "Kentucky  Stock  Farm,"  December  31,  1891.) 


Heat  betting  is  the  easiest  and  therefore  the  most 
tempting  way  of  swindling  the  public,  especially  the  army 
of  small  bettors.  Remove  the  temptation,  then  "laying 
up  heats"  cannot  be  objectionable.  It  is  the  very  hardest 
matter  for  the  judges  to  reach  and  control,  so  as  to  pro- 
tect the  public,  of  any  of  the  duties  imposed  upon  them. 
It  is  recognizing  a  system  of  betting  differing  from  all 
previous  customs  (wagering  on  contests  of  any  kind  be- 
ing the  main  event)  and  in  direct  opposition  to  the  fun- 
damental law  of  betting,  that  "a  bettor  should  not  lose 
without  a  chance  of  winning."  When  there  is  heat  bet- 
ting, even  though  a  heat  is  "layed  up"  innocently  for  the 
commendable  purpose  of  enhancing  the  chances  of  win- 
ning the  main  event  and  not  for  robbery,  a  certain  portion 
of  the  betting  public  lose  their  money  without  an  earthly 
chance  of  winning. 

The  system  has  been  for  years  the  means  of  more 
swindling,  more  robbery — five  times  told — in  trotting 
races,  than^all  the  other  methods  in  racing.  Next  to  it  are 
"second  money  plays."  Abolish  both.  If  one  horse  is 
so  certain  a  winner  that  pools  cannot  be  sold  against  him 
for  the  main  event,  let  betting  stand  still  in  that  race.  Do 
not  make  a  repetition  of  the  Hannis-Ford,  the  Walter  E.- 
Honest  George  scandals,  and  hundreds  of  others  like  them 
that  might  be  cited,  possible. 


294  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

Pool-sellers  and  book-makers  will  oppose  the  abolish- 
ment of  the  system,  because,  as  they  claim,  "it  will  keep 
money  out  of  the  box,"  on  which  they  and  the  associations 
now  get  a  percentage.  But  my  experience  with  pool- 
sellers  is  that  they  are  about  the  shortest-sighted  business 
men  imaginable.  They  can't  see  that  any  and  every  safe- 
guard that  can  be  thrown  around  their  business  only  in- 
spires confidence,  and  with  confidence  increased  business, 
both  from  habitual  followers  and  from  wealthy  gentle- 
men who  now  do  not  bet  a  dollar — not  from  adverse 
principle  simply,  but  because  they  do  not  want  to  be  con- 
sidered lambs  to  be  shorn  by  the  job  shearers.  The  pool- 
seller  of  the  future  is  the  one  who  will  act  in  co-operation 
with  the  judges'  stand  and  the  association,  whose  servant 
he  is,  and  be  ready,  willing  and  anxio.us  to  expose  a  steal ; 
in  the  past  it  has  been  their  motto,  anything  to  shield  and 
cover  up  a  job.  There  is  no  reason  why  book-making  and 
French  mutual  pools  cannot  be  carried  on  on  the  result  of 
the  race,  and  while  possibly  the  volume  of  business  might 
temporarily  fall  off  for  the  time,  it  would  speedily  gain 
greater  proportions  than  ever  before. 


Horsemen  want  five  per  cent,  entrance,  and  properly 
insist  that  the  revenue  should  come  from  the  gate ;  the  at- 
tending public  howl  for  free  admission,  and  the  track 
managers  get  cussed  "from  A  to  izzard"  from  both  quar- 
ters. 


THE   TROTTER   ON   THE   FARM. 


(Read  at  Stock  Breeders'  Meeting  at  Columbus,  O.,  December,  1890.) 


The  relation  of  all  classes  of  horses  to  agriculture  is  a 
close  one,  inasmuch  as  a  large  majority  of  them  are  bred 
on  farms  by  farmers.  I  shall  therefore  start  out  with  the 
assumption  that  the  real  meaning  of  "relation"  in  this 
connection,  is  the  profit  arising  from  the  pursuit  of  breed- 
ing the  trotting  horse. 

It  is  true  that  the  agriculturist  has  an  interest  in  his 
business  above  that  of  the  simple  sordid  one  of  gain ;  and 
the  elevating  love  of  nature  engendered  by  the  annual 
building  of  crops  from  seed  sown  by  his  own  hand,  is  a 
noble  interest  leading  the  thoughts  upward,  and  teaching 
the  mind  to  wonder  at  the  phenomenal  power  of  the 
Supreme  Being. 

The  trotting  horse  is  an  American  citizen,  needing  no 
naturalization  papers  or  introduction.  For  general  use 
and  business  he  is,  next  to  man,  God's  noblest  creation. 
The  draft  horse  can  pull,  the  thoroughbred  can  run ; 
neither  can  trot ;  neither  is  adapted  to  the  general  business 
of  mankind ;  one  is  a  slow  slug,  the  other  treacherous  and 
flighty — a  gambling  machine.  Whereas  the  trotting-bred 
horse  can  pull  your  plow ;  he  can  run  as  fast  as  is  ever 
necessary  in  business,  and  he  can  make  you  grow  young 
with  the  pleasure  he  affords  in  a  "spin"  down  the  smooth 
stretch  of  road  on  your  way  home — such  a  "spin"  that 
opens  your  heart,  makes  you  pat  the  baby  on  its  head, 
furnishes  a  kind  word  and  a  loving  kiss  for  your  wife, 
instead  of  that  desire  to  kick  your  dog  after  a  slow,  work- 


296  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

your  passage  with  the  whip,  ride  behind  a  dung-hill  beast. 

The  highest  price  ever  paid  for  a  horse,  $105,000,  was 
paid  for  a  trotter  that  was  produced  from  a  $150  mare, 
and  was  bred,  reared,  trained  and  sold  by  a  telegraph 
operator.  The  general  average  paid  for  trotting-bred 
horses  is  above  the  average  paid  for  horses  of  other 
classes.  Then  why,  with  the  possibilities  of  extreme 
value,  and  the  certainty  of  a  value  above  that  of  any 
other  breed,  is  not  the  trotting  horse  the  horse  for  the 
agriculturist  to  produce?  He  is  the  horse  of  to-day,  and 
the  horse  of  the  future. 

Much  of  the  many  theories  advanced  on  how  to  breed 
the  trotting  horse  is  good,  a  great  deal  bad — the  old  story 
of  the  chaff  and  the  grain.  And  let  me  say  right  here,  if 
you  have  not  judgment  of  your  own  that  can  separate  the 
chaff  from  the  wheat,  don't  start  breeding  trotters.  Let 
me  hope,  for  your  sake,  that  you  can  employ  the  "separ- 
ator" to  this  article,  for  it  undoubtedly  contains  much 
chaff,  and  only  possibly  a  very  little  sound  grain  that 
might  benefit  you  in  saving,  for  I  plead  guilty,  like  my  fel- 
low men,  of  proneness  to  the  equestrian  feat  of  straddling 
a  hobby,  and  riding  with  whip  and  spur.  The  trotting 
standard — a  much  reviled,  and  often  a  misleading  guide, 
acting  in  the  minds  of  the  unthinking  men  as  a  harmful 
finger  board  that  points  in  the  wrong  direction,  and  add- 
ing a  fictitious  value  to  many  a  scrub  not  worth  the  water 
it  drinks — is  still  mainly  the  true  guide  to  success  in 
breeding.  It  is  far  from  perfect,  all  know,  but,  used  with 
judgment  and  intelligence,  it  will  bring  success,  and  suc- 
cess "puts  money  in  thy  purse." 

It  is  true  that  there  are  many  out  of  the  standard  rank 
better  than  many  that  are  in  it.  But  that's  where  judg- 
ment comes  in.    It  is  also  true  that  it  has  no  control  over 


THE    TROTTER    OX    THE    FARM.  297 

hereditary  or  individual  unsoundness.  A  plug  decorated 
with  ringbones,  spavins,  splints,  and  curbs,  not  fast 
enough  to  get  out  of  his  own  way — in  short  an  utterly- 
worthless  brute — may  be  as  eligible  as  the  best  individual 
horse  and  the  highest  bred  one  in  the  land.  And  that  is 
where  I  think  the  principal  evil  of  the  standard  lies.  Go 
to  a  fair  of  any  of  our  county  agricultural  societies  with 
the  following  test :  Let  three  gentlemen  exhibit  three  dif- 
ferent stallions :  No.  i — a  good  individual,  fast,  sound 
and  standard ;  No.  2 — a  flat  sided  scrub,  fit  for  no  duty 
that  a  horse  was  ever  intended  for,  but  standard  and  hav- 
ing a  "number" ;  No.  3 — a  grand  individual,  fast,  high- 
bred, sound,  but  just  outside  the  standard.  Then  will 
appear  the  numerous  individual  of  the  genius  standard 
crank,  with  his  lofty-wise-acre-I-know-it-all  sir,  asking 
the  standard  "number"  of  each.  The  two  having  that  ap- 
pendage, are  then,  in  his  estimation,  equal.  One  is  stand- 
ard with  a  number,  and  the  other  has  a  number  and  is 
standard,  so  both  are  equally  good  to  breed  to.  But  the 
one  without  a  number  is  absolutely  worthless  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  theorist,  although  in  reality  capable  of  making 
himself  standard  by  his  own  performances,  and  not  de- 
pending on  the  departed  greatness  of  his  ancestors  for  that 
distinction.  That  is  the  fictitious  view  of  the  standard, 
the  evil  of  the.  standard  and  the  place  where  good  judg- 
ment must  step  in  and  do  its  duty. 

Ohio,  my  native  state,  and  where  is  there  a  Buckeye 
not  proud  of  the  dear  old  commonwealth — is  by  nature 
most  favorably  adapted  for  breeding  the  trotter.  The 
temperature  is  perfect  for  his  full  development  and 
health ;  blessed  with  an  abundance  of  sweet  and  nutritious 
grasses,  and  crystal  water.  It  has  the  native  foundation 
for  greatness  in  its  equine  production,  being  the  original 


298  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

home  of  the  Hiatoga,  Tuckahoe,  Cadmus,  Camden,  Bac- 
chus, and  other  great  families,  whose  blood  is  found  in 
many  of  the  country's  best  performers.  Ohio  produced 
the  great  Pocahontas,  undoubtedly  the  fastest  harness 
horse  that  ever  lived,  and  whose  every  drop  of  blood 
sparkles  like  diamonds  in  pedigrees  where  found;  potent 
in  the  fastest  stallion,  by  the  crucial  test  of  a  public  rec- 
ord, that  was  ever  foaled,  Nelson,  2:10.  The  renowned 
Smuggler,  2  :i$%,  was  bred  in  Ohio.  The  phenomenal  star 
of  the  "big"  four,"  Sleepy  Tom,  saw  the  light  of  day  on 
the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Scioto  and  the  light  went  from 
his  eyes  while  being  used  for  plebian  purposes,  before  he 
made  himself  king  of  pacers  of  his  day.  Blue  Bull  orig- 
inally went  from  Ohio.  The  fame  of  "the  dun  mare  from 
Ohio"  in  so  many  great  pedigrees  became  proverbial. 
Shanghai  Mary,  dam  of  the  marvelous  Green  Mountain 
Maid,  was  "a  mare  of  unknown  breeding  bought  in 
Ohio."  I  have  seen  her  picture  at  Stony  Ford.  It  shares 
the  place  of  honor  with  that  of  her  great  daughter,  over 
the  door  of  the  reception  room.  Hundreds  have  looked 
at  the  picture  of  that  rakish,  angular  sorrel  mare,  with 
four  white  legs  and  a  blaze,  and  returning  again  and 
again  with  a  feeling  almost  of  awe,  and  a  presentiment 
that  they  were  gazing  on  the  picture  of  a  queen  of  her 
kind  before  asking  the  genial  host,  Charles  Backman,  the 
question,  "What  mare  is  that." 

Mr.  Backman  spent  a  large  sum  of  money  in  attempt- 
ing to  trace  her  pedigree,  and  sent  a  commissioner  to  Ohio 
for  that  purpose,  but  without  avail.  To  me  there  is  a 
peculiar  fascination  in  that  picture  of  a  ragged-hipped, 
clean-cut,  do-or-die-looking  faded  sorrel  mare.  I  told 
Mr.  Backman  that  she  was  in  appearance,  a  typical  Cad- 
mus, and  she  is,  having  all  the  characteristics  of  that  Ohio 


THE  TROTTER  ON  THE  FARM.  299 

family.  David  Bonner,  a  most  excellent  judge  of  such 
matters,  who  had  often  seen  Pocahontas,  said  she  re- 
sembled that  mare  very  strongly  in  conformation  and 
markings.  H.  M.  Hanna,  who  often  ran  away  from 
school  to  ride  "quarter  races"  on  a  Cadmus,  and  who  is 
very  familiar  with  that  family,  coincides  in  the  opinion 
that  Shanghai  Mary  was  a  Cadmus. 

But  to  return  to  our  subject,  "relation, "  etc.,  i.  e.,  profit 
to  the  agriculturist  in  breeding  the  trotter.  My  advice  to 
a  beginner  would  be  to  carefully  study  the  2  130  list,  and 
from  it  form  an  idea  of  the  breeding  or  combination  of 
blood  most  potent  in  producing  the  representatives  in  that 
list.  Then  breed  to  the  best  your  means  will  permit.  Re- 
member, always,  that  a  horse  bred  to  trot  and  cannot  trot, 
cannot  do  what  he  is  bred  to  do,  and  is  therefore  a  failure. 
Don't  bred  to  such  a  one.  He  cannot  transmit  a  power  he 
does  not  possess.  Between  the  two  horses,  equal  individ- 
ually, one  standard  and  the  other  not,  breed  to  the  stand- 
ard one,  but  far  better  breed  to  a  good  non-standard 
horse  than  a  poor  standard  one.  Never  forget  that  a  good 
looking  horse  will  always  sell  well,  therefore  do  not  sac- 
rifice looks  for  uncertain  speed.  In  this  day  the  combina- 
tion, good  looks  and  speed,  should  be  easily  produced. 
Never  breed  to  a  horse  with  hereditary  unsoundness. 

If  you  can  afford  it  buy  mares  of  fashionable  breeding, 
because  their  offspring  will  sell  readily  for  good  prices. 
If  you  cannot  afford  that  kind  do  the  best  you  can,  con- 
soling yourself  with  the  reflection  that  the  dams  of  many 
of  the  fastest  horses  in  the  world  have  been  low-priced 
mares.  Oliver  K.  was  sold  with  his  dam  for  $150; 
Axtell's  dam  cost  $150;  Jack's  dam  sold  for  $75;  Mc- 
Doel's  for  $140;  Allerton's  for  $200,  and  the  list  might  be 
continued  up  into  the  hundreds. 


300  TALES   OF   THE    TURF. 

In  every  community  there  are  mares  of  great  local 
reputation  as  untiring  wear-and-tear  roadsters,  almost  in- 
variably high-strung  and  willful.  Remember  the  hundreds 
on  hundreds  of  instances  in  great  pedigrees  of  "breeding 
unknown,  but  a  great  roadster."  I  believe  disposition  to  be 
one  of  the  main  factors  in  producing  speed.  A  great 
brood  mare  family  is  always  a  high-strung  family.  Green 
Mountain  Maid  could  kick  the  peaks  off  the  stars ;  so 
could  Bessie  Turner,  the  dam  of  Oliver  K.  It  was  worth 
a  man's  life  to  drive  the  dam  of  Phyllis.  Annie  Eastin, 
the  dam  of  three  in  the  list,  was  a  hot-headed  puller  that 
would  go  until  she  dropped  in  her  tracks.  Alma  Mater 
was  very  high-toned  and  from  a  high-toned  family.  The 
dam  of  Abdallah  is  renowed  in  history  for  her  great  road 
feats.  Emaline,  the  dam  of  seven  in  the  list,  was  another 
high-spirited  one.  So  was  Gretchen,  the  dam  of  Cling- 
stone. Miss  Russell  was  another,  and  the  dam  of  Guy 
had  a  will  that  the  black  phenomenon  inherits.  Lady  Ful- 
ton was  a  "holy  terror"  that  could  and  would  run  away 
whenever  she  felt  like  it,  which  was  about  all  the  time,  and 
she  could  kick  icicles  off  a  church  steeple.  In  fact,  in  a 
desultory  limited  investigation  some  years  since  I  found 
but  few  mothers  of  fast  performers  that  were  not  high- 
spirited  mares,  many  of  them  absolutely  mean.  So  a 
brood  mare  with  some  speed  and  a  great  deal  of  resolu- 
tion is  a  good  article  to  start  off  with. 

After  you  breed  a  colt  give  it  a  chance.  Feed  it  well 
and  when  old  enough  teach  him  to  step  out  and,  whether 
in  training  or  not,  remember  that  pure  green  grass  is 
nature's  remedy  for  all  ailments.  There  is  a  great  deal 
of  foolishness  in  the  present  day's  training.  Toe  weights, 
hopples,  patent  spreaders  and  the  like  are  undoubtedly  in 
rare  instances  necessary,  but  are  frequently  used  when 


THE   TROTTER    OX    THE    FARM.  301 

their  absence  would  be  much  better.  A  little  more  time 
and  patience  generally  accomplishes  all  that  these  mechan- 
ical appliances  do,  and  the  legs,  feet,  gait  and  after  ser- 
vice of  the  animal  are  much  better  for  their  omission.  If 
you  can  afford  it,  put  your  colt  in  the  hands  of  a  capable 
trainer — if  you  can  find  one  of  that  kind — but  better  no 
training  at  all  than  poor  training.  Good  training  is  a 
good  investment.  If  you  have  the  time,  train  him  your- 
self. You  will  find  the  work  a  fascinating  recreation. 
Get  up  an  hour  earlier  each  morning.  The  colt  will  enjoy 
it — so  will  you.  Do  not  overwork  him.  Keep  him  feeling 
gay  as  a  lark,  and  when  he  wants  to  step  out  let  him  go, 
short  distances  at  a  time.  If  at  the  snap  of  a  twig,  or  a 
rustle  of  the  leaves  of  the  roadside  bushes,  he  occasionally 
starts  upon  a  trot  and  speeds  away  faster  than  his  ordi- 
nary one,  if  only  for  a  rod  or  two,  you  have  then  a  prom- 
ise that  will  pay  to  train.  If  he  has  no  "brush,"  but  the 
stereotyped  gait,  about  as  fast  one  time  as  another,  my 
idea  is  that  he  has  not  the  necessary  quality  for  training. 
Sell  him  then  for  a  business  horse;  the  price  will  cover 
the  expenses  of  raising  and  a  fair  profit.  If  he  turns  out 
only  a  2  130  performer,  his  value  will  be  several  times  over 
the  cost  of  his  production,  and  will  also  increase  that  of 
his  sire  and  dam.  If  he  should  be  a  phenomenon — 2  :20 
or  better  trotter,  you  are  made  rich  by  one  animal. 

It  may  appear  that  there  is  an  overproduction  of  this 
class  of  horses,  that  the  inevitable  law  of  supply  and 
demand  will  soon  have  its  innings  and  overproduction 
result,  as  it  always  does,  in  disaster.  While  that  may  be 
true,  it  is  equally  true  that  breeding  the  trotting-bred 
horse,  is  at  the  present  time,  the  most  profitable  industry 
the  agriculturist  can  engage  in.  And  remember  that  the 
trotting  horse  is  the  most  useful  horse  in  the  world ;  that 


302  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

America  is  his  home ;  that  we  have  spent  nearly  a  century 
in  bringing  him  to  his  present  state  of  perfection;  that, 
being  the  best  animal  of  his  kind,  he  will  certainly  gain  a 
foothold — or  rather,  increase  the  foothold  he  has  already 
gained  with  all  civilized  nations.  They  must  come  to  the 
land  of  the  stars  and  stripes  to  get  him,  and  though  it 
looks  like  overproduction  now,  the  markets  of  the  world 
will  soon  all  want  what  only  we  can  furnish,  and  in  that 
view  the  business  has  a  rosy  hue. 


HOW  A   SWIPE  WON 


He  was  entered  at  Columbus,  O.,  against  such  good 
ones  as  Baron  Dillon,  Geneva,  Roseleaf,  Russellmont  and 
Aline ;  the  entrance  money  had  been  sent  with  his  nomina- 
tion, and  Billy — that's  his  owner — was  to  be  there  to 
drive.  Josh — that  was  his  "swipe" — had  his  satin  chest- 
nut coat  (the  horse's)  like  burnished  copper  in  the  sun- 
light ;  and  patting  the  glossy  neck  of  his  friend — for  a 
good  trotting-horse  groom  is  always  a  friend  of  the  horse 
he  "rubs" — Josh  soliloquized,  "Old  fellow,  you're  fit  to 
trot  for  the  Persian  Empire,  pearls  and  diamonds  thrown 
in,  and  you'll  win,  won't  you,  old  boy  ?  Then  this  winter 
I'll  have  a  woolly  overcoat  with  a  velvet  collar,  striped 
pants,  a  red  necktie  and  pointed-toed  patent-leather  shoes, 
and  I'll  cut  a  swell  around  home,  you  bet,  for  Bourbon, 
I've  got  my  last  nickel  on  you,  not  enough  left  to  pay  the 
washwoman.  You'll  win,  won't  you,  old  Bourb?  But 
why  don't  Billy  show  up,  it's  nearly  time  for  the  warming- 
up  heat?" 

Thirty  miles  away  that  day  the  engine  of  a  passenger 
train  headed  for  Columbus,  whistled,  slowed,  stopped — 
breathing  and  panting  like  a  human  being,  as  good 
engines  do.  A  freight  train  wreck  on  the  track ;  no  tele- 
graph office,  no  prospect  of  getting  through  for  hours, 
Billy  a  passenger  on  that  train,  and  Bourbon's  race  to  be 
called  in  less  than  two  hours. 

Clank !  clank !  clank !  went  the  call  bell  for  the  first 
race  on  the  card,  and  no  Billy  yet.  Josh  "warmed  up" 
Bourbon ;  still  no  driver,  and  the  race  was  called.     "It's 


304  TALES    OF   THE   TURF. 

too  late  now  to  get  a  swell  driver,"  thought  Josh,  "and, 
besides,  I  don't  know  what  he  might  do  if  I  did  get  one. 
We  'swipes'  can  sit  on  the  track  fence  and  criticize  all  the 
drivers,  but  when  we  try  to  drive  we  make  monkeys  of 
ourselves.  Still,  I'll  go  ahead  the  first  heat,  just  keep  in- 
side the  flag,  and  Billy  must  show  up  for  the  second  heat. 
Now,  Bourbon,  for  the  Lord's  sake  remember  that  over- 
coat, red  necktie,  pointed-toed  shoes  and  drive  yourself,  for 
I'm  scared  to  death  now."  So,  off  goes  Josh ;  but  he  kept 
a  long  way  inside  the  flag,  for  he  was  at  the  wire  first,  and 
if  there  ever  was  an  astonished  "swipe"  it  was  Josh.  Not 
only  that,  but  Billy  not  "showing  up,"  as  Josh  put  it,  he 
lost  the  second  heat  and  landed  the  next  two  heats  and 
race.    Time,  2  :i3*4,  2  '-^^A,  2  :i3^. 

If  the  reader  regards  this  as  fiction,  let  him  look  up 
the  record  of  the  Columbus,  O.,  meeting  September  13, 
1895,  and  ask  Wm.  L.  Rice,  of  Canal  Dover,  Ohio,  who 
drove  Bourbon  Wilkes,  Jr.,  in  that  event. 


A  good  pedigree  is  good;  a  good  horse  is  better;  a 
good  pedigree  and  a  good  horse  combined  is  best. 


MUSKET. 


A  horse  holding  the  distinction  of  being  the  "unluck- 
iest  horse  on  earth"  is  entitled  to  a  place  in  history. 
Musket  came  from  Iowa  to  the  1895  Cleveland  sale,  to  be 
sold  for  the  benefit  of  his  owner — and  the  country  at 
large,  barring  the  purchaser.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he 
showed  more  speed  than  any  horse  on  the  track  had  done 
that  year  up  to  that  date,  and  everybody  predicted  great 
things  for  the  blaze-faced  son  of  Red  Baron.  His  owner 
was  so  infatuated  that  he  paid  the  catalogue  fee — and 
that's  the  only  income  I've  ever  received  from  the  horse, 
but  there's  been  a  lot  of  outgoes — and  withdrew  him  from 
the  sale.  The  horse  immediately  took  sick,  I  suppose  from 
chagrin  that  he  had  ever  made  a  cent  for  anyone,  came 
near  dying,  but  unfortunately  for  me  recovered  sufficiently 
to  be  shipped  back  to  the  prairies  of  his  native  state. 
Somehow  he  kept  haunting  me,  that  blaze  face  and  beau- 
tiful gait,  and  I  bought  him  for  $600  on  the  assurance  that 
he  had  recovered  from  his  sickness.  He  was  sick  when 
he  was  returned  to  Cleveland,  and  continued  that  way. 
When  he  began  getting  better  he  was  kicked  on  the  arm 
of  his  left  front  leg  by  Sunland  Clay.  His  hind  legs  re- 
mained very  slightly  "stocked"  from  the  effects  of  the 
distemper.  In  my  absence  a  stable  boy  blistered  them 
with  caustic  balsam  with  the  intent  of  reducing  them,  but 
the  effect  was  inverse  ratio,  and  the  legs  swelled  clear  to 
his  body  as  big  as  a  beer  keg.  He's  too  unlucky  for  me. 
There  may  be  horse  diseases  he  has  not  had,  but  I  don't 
know  their  names.    He's  had  a  touch  of  everything  I  can 


306  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

find  in  the  doctor's  books,  including  hiccoughs  and  worms  ; 
and  now  that  he  has  run  the  gamut  of  diseases  possibly 
his  luck  will  turn.  It  would  just  be  my  luck,  but  I  don't 
want  to  chance  it.  I'll  agree  to  pray  for  the  man  who 
buys  him — he'll  need  it. 

I  will  say  in  conclusion  that  he  is  the  best-gaited  horse 
I  ever  sat  behind,  and  I  think  I  have  ridden  faster  behind 
him  than  I  ever  did  behind  Eloise  or  Rifle.  There  are  a 
number  of  horsemen  in  Northern  Ohio  just  waiting  to  bid 
on  Musket.  I  hope  they  won't  get  him,  because  it  would 
be  my  luck  to  have  him  beat  something  I  had  in  the  first 
race,  besides  I  never  want  to  see  him  again. 


Do  not  forget  stamina  when  breeding.  What  an  awful 
feeling  it  is  to  own  a  flash  horse  and  see  a  game  one  close 
to  him  at  the  head  of  the  stretch. 


THE    RIDE   OF  A   LIFETIME. 


The  soft  breezes  quivered  the  leaves  that,  painted  by 
the  autumn  sun,  were  glowing  bravely  in  every  shade  of 
red.  brown  and  gold  the  morning  I  drove,  hitched  to  a 
light  wagon,  a  rakish  looking  bay  gelding  over  the  Boule- 
vard in  Cleveland  to  Wade  Park.  His  thin  lively  ears 
pricked  and  turned  and  played,  and  his  great  intelligent 
eye  glanced  from  side  to  side  and  back  at  his  new  driver, 
as  with  his  easy,  trotting  jog  he  stepped  along,  a  king  of 
his  race,  admired  by  the  many  ladies  and  gentlemen  in 
swell  turnouts  that  met  us.  There  seemed  nothing  created 
that  he  feared.  He  was  bright,  cheerful,  happy,  pleasant, 
prompt  and  alert  to  the  slightest  touch  of  the  rein.  In 
short,  he  was  that  perfection  which  a  road  driver  may  live 
to  an  old  age  and  die  without  finding. 

That  bay  gelding  was  Flying  Jib, — "the  Jib  hoss" — 
the  first  horse  in  the  world  to  beat  two  minutes  in  harness, 
one  of  the  soundest,  sweetest  and  most  intelligent  horses 
ever  foaled,  and  the  fastest  horse  on  the  road  the  world 
has  ever  seen.  No  wonder  that  Capt.  Griffith  would  never 
sell  "the  Jib."  We  reached  the  speeding  ground  at  Wade 
Park  on  a  quiet,  trotting  jog.  The  Jib  seemed  to  know 
the  purposes  of  the  smooth,  straight  stretch,  for  his  ears 
pricked  more  lively,  and  he  glanced  oftener  back  to  me, 
poking  his  nose  out  in  gentle  reminder,  and  if  a  horse 
wonders,  perhaps  wondering  "if  that  guy  holding  the  reins 
realized  that  he  was  sitting  behind  a  horse  that  could  beat 
anv  horse  living  a  brush  down  the  road."  The  other  fel- 
low came  along.     I  mean  the  fellow  with  holders  on  his 


308  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

lines,  quarter  boots  on  his  steed,  blue  glasses  and  a  know- 
ing confident  look.  He  sat  straight  back,  his  arms  at 
length  and  the  lines  taut.  He  had  that  bantering,  tan- 
talizing, aggravating  if-I'd-only-let-loose-of-these-lines- 
where-would-you-be  air,  as  he  glanced  at  Jib  and  me. 
The  Jib  moved  a  little  faster  and  I  took  him  gently  back 
as  my  rival  loosened  on  his  reins  and  asked  his  horse  to 
step  along.  I  allowed  him  to  open  up  about  a  length  of 
daylight,  and  just  when  the  other  fellow  thought  it  was 
"too  easy,"  I  slacked  away  to  the  Jib — whiz,  phew,  a  clat- 
ter of  feet  on  the  hard  road  like  the  roll  beat  of  a  snare 
drum,  a  whiff  of  wind  and  the  Jib  was  gone.  I  com- 
menced gasping  for  breath  as  the  wind  carried  away  my 
hat  and  took  the  few  remaining  feeble  hairs  from  the  top 
of  my  head,  the  wagon  meantime  swishing  from  side  to 
side,  the  sparks  flying,  and  I  began  to  realize  that  I  was 
riding  on  a  streak  of  lightning,  or  rather  behind  one. 
Then  I  weakened — I've  said  a  thousand  times  that  I  could 
ride  as  fast  as  a  horse  could  go — but  the  Jib  taught  me  I 
was  mistaken.  I  spoke  to  him,  taking  him  back  with  a 
slight  tension,  and  the  Jib,  back  on  a  trotting  jog,  looked 
around  as  much  as  to  say,  "what  do  you  think  of  that?" 
We  turned  and  presently  met  my  rival  road  driver.  He 
was  a  good  fellow  at  heart,  honest  enough  not  to  go  into 
the  "excuse  column"  when  he  was  beaten.  He  held  up 
both  hands  and  we  stopped.  "For  God,  mister,  what  is 
that  you  are  driving  ?  Why,  this  horse  I  have  has  a  rec- 
ord of  2  :  12,  and  I  didn't  think  a  man  could  buy,  beg,  bor- 
row, or  steal  a  horse  he  couldn't  beat,  but  you  went  past 
me  like  the  Empire  State  Express  would  pass  a  funeral  ?" 
I  told  him  Flying  Jib  and  jogged  home. 


BUFFALO   PARK. 


For  thirty  years  the  sound  of  the  recall'  bell  has  been 
heard  and  the  word  "Go"  given  on  the  famous  Buffalo 
trotting  track.  This  classic  ground  has  been  the  pioneer  in 
making  trotting  horse  history.  It  was  there  in  1867  that 
Dexter,  the  white-legged,  blaze-faced  conqueror  electrified 
the  country  by  trotting  in  2:17^,  beating  the  world's 
record.  In  1872  Lucy,  the  peerless  daughter  of  George  M. 
Patchen,  trotted  to  a  record  of  2  :i8>4  at  Buffalo  when  she 
defeated  American  Girl,  Goldsmith  Maid  and  Henry.  In 
1874  Smuggler,  by  one  of  his  thunderbolt  rushes,  won  a 
heat,  beating  the  stallion  record,  and  then  lost  his  race,  a 
victim  of  heavy  shoes  and  toe  weights,  the  honors  in  the 
championship  contest  going  to  Thomas  Jefferson,  "the 
black  whirlwind  of  the  North." 

In  1878  all  eyes  were  again  turned  to  Buffalo  during 
the  Grand  Circuit  meeting,  when  Splan  cut  the  world's 
record  to  2  '.i^H  with  Rarus. 

When  the  first  bell  rang  at  Buffalo,  Budd  Doble  and 
Orrin  Hickok  were  boys.  Dan  and  Ben  Mace  were  in 
their  prime.  Splan's  warwhoop  was  just  beginning  to  be 
heard  in  the  land.  The  younger  generation  of  drivers  like 
Ed  Geers,  "the  silent  man  from  Tennessee,"  and  McHenry 
of  Freeport,  followed  in  due  course.  "Pa"  Hamlin  was 
just  starting  in  the  business  of  breeding  trotters,  the  suc- 
cess of  which  has  made  him  a  personage  as  widely  known 
in  the  country  as  the  President. 

[The  above  was  written  in  1895.  The  last  meeting  held  over 
the  Buffalo  track  was  in  1896]. 


THE   HIGHLY   POLISHED   GOLD 

BRICK. 


At  the  Cleveland  Grand  Circuit  Meeting  in  1899,  in 
one  of  the  slow  classes,  appeared  a  rakish  bay  gelding 
entered  from  "Old  Missouri,"  but  his  name  wasn't  "Joe 
Brown,"  nor  yet  "Brother  Ike"  of  red  hair  renown.  His 
driver,  name  unknown,  was  of  the  innocent  smiling  con- 
tingent; at  the  same  time  one  whom  a  shrewd  judge  of 
character  wouldn't  be  apt  "to  collar"  with  a  view  to  float- 
ing a  gold  brick  proposition.  And  his  name  (the  horse's) 
was  Sagwa.  Now  his  driver  appeared  like  an  industrious 
"cuss,"  but  somehow,  at  the  finish,  it  was  eyelashes  apart 
between  the  three  front  horses.  He  was  about  the  most 
indolent  young  man  you  ever  met.  The  judges,  seeking 
the  acquaintance  of  all  meritorious  fellow  American  citi- 
zens— especially  those  from  the  sister  colony  of  Missouri 
— sent  for  the  gentleman  "all  the  way  from  Pike,"  and  in- 
troduced themselves  to  this  wanderer  and  stranger  on  old 
Erie's  shores.  He,  appreciating  the  compliment,  smiled, 
showing  his  clean  white  teeth — gave  them  a  thirty-year- 
in-the-United  States  Senate-Thos.  H.  Benton  conversa- 
tion, and,  well,  there  are  authenticated  cases  where  a 
"novice"  raised  to  an  emergency,  especially  in  a  trotting 
race,  and  the  summary  must  tell  whether  "the  gentleman 
from  Missouri"  was  "next"  to  his  job.  That  was  Sagwa's 
only  start  in  public.  They  do  say  though,  that  the  gentle 
denizens  of  the  Buckeye  State,  especially  that  portion  re- 
siding in  the  territory  originally  known  as  the  "Western 


THE    HIGHLY    POLISHED    GOLD    BRICK.  311 

Reserve"  haven't  been  conspicuous  in  history  for  over- 
looking a  good  thing,  whether  it  be  a  fat  political  office  or 
something  more  reputable,  and  on  the  train  that  took 
Sagwa  back  to  his  native  heath  there  was  a  young  man, 
not  of  Pickwick's  build,  nor  yet  of  that  of  Pickwick's 
sleepy  boy.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  certain  Doctor  who 
became  celebrated  by  his  endeavor  to  teach  the  world  how 
to  live  without  eating?  Well,  around  the  Cleveland  Driv- 
ing Park  trie  people  know  of  that  fellow's  namesake,  and 
he  is  a  trainer  of  horses,  but  as  far  as  known  he  was  not 
a  follower  of  that  precept  sought  to  be  demonstrated  by 
the  pioneer  of  his  name,  for  history  fails  to  record  a  case 
where  he  skipped  one  bite  when  there  was  a  meal  around 
and  anything  left  on  the  table.  That  was  the  young  man 
who  in  physical  conformation  was  unlike  Pickwick  and 
also  unlike  Pickwick's  sleepy  boy. 

Sagwa  showed  him  four  heats,  2:24,  2:13^,  2:123/2, 
2\iiy2  on  a  comparatively  slow  track,  the  same  afternoon, 
with  regulation  time  between  each  mile.  Sagwa  went 
back  to  Cleveland.  It  is  presumed  he  was  purchased.  On 
a  recent  visit  to  Cleveland  the  writer  of  this  saw  Sagwa 
one  day,  and  really  did  accept  an  invitation  to  see  him  per- 
form on  the  morrow,  but  that  night  he  received  a  telegram 
that  his  yacht  was  to  sail  for  the  cup  the  next  day,  and 
being  compelled,  out  of  courtesy  to  his  opponent  to  be 
present  at  the  yacht  event,  he  of  course,  missed  Sagwa  do 
a  great  performance.  But  now,  serously,  joking  aside, 
this  is  one  of  the  best  formed,  most  evenly  balanced,  and 
fastest  horses  on  earth,  one  that  has  a  chance  to  wear  a 
champion's  crown.  He  is  one  of  the  best  pole  horses  im- 
aginable, and  will  impress  all  as  an  ideal  trotter,  good 
headed,  good  gaited,  the  real  thing. 


MATT  LAIRD  AND  RUBENSTEIN. 


A  few  years  ago,  at  Windsor,  Ont.,  there  flashed  upon 
the  public,  meteor-like,  a  handsome,  highly-bred  stallion, 
then  unknown  to  the  horse  fraternity,  and  unthought  of 
by  the  professional  pool  followers.  He  was  entered  by  a 
modest  young  man  from  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  I  remember 
the  remark  of  a  shrewd  bettor  when  he  first  saw  the  young 
fellow :  "Now,  I  don't  know  where  he  comes  from,  nor 
anything  about  his  horse,  but  I'll  bet  he  isn't  up  here  to 
buy  peanuts  or  gingerbread,  or  to  smuggle  a  bottle  of 
'Mohickinville  liquor'  across  the  border;  so  I'll  just  'keep 
cases'  on  that  'slick'  looking  young  man  and  his  good- 
looking  stallion."  The  "young  fellow"  was  Matt  Laird, 
and  the  horse  Rubenstein,  and  what  the  pair  did  to  the 
other  drivers  and  horses,  and  the  pool  buyers  "was  a 
plenty,"  for  they  "spread-eagled"  the  race  "for  fair,"  and 
philosopher  "Benny"  sighed  as  he  said,  "I  made  up  my 
mind  to  watch  that  pair,  but  forgot  it,  and  now  they  have 
got  my  money — and  about  everybody  else's." 


A  person  with  experience  in  any  business  knows  more 
about  that  business  than  the  same  person  without  exper- 
ience would. 


WYOKEE 


At  different  sales  I  have  disposed  of  horses  that  have 
turned  out  profitable  investments.  For  instance,  Marie  C. 
was  sold  for  $70.  She  was  highly  bred  and  could  trot 
fast,  taking  a  record  the  same  season  of  2:16^4.  I  sold 
Wyreka,  green,  but  very  fast  at  both  gaits,  for  $185,  and 
he  took  a  record  the  same  season,  pacing,  of  2  :i8^J,  after- 
wards reduced  it  to  2:13^4.  These  are  only  instances  on 
one  side  of  the  ledger.  On  the  other  side  I've  sold  some 
no  account  ones.  For  instance,  Musket,  that  I  catalogued 
as  the  "unluckiest  horse  in  America,"  for  he'd  had  every 
disease  in  the  calendar  from  worms  up.  I  told  the  bid- 
ders when  he  was  in  the  ring  they  were  giving  more  than 
he  was  worth,  and  he  "made  good"  for  he  died  soon  after 
he  arrived  in  Boston,  whether  because  of  the  location  to 
which  they  had  taken  him,  or  that  he  wanted  to  make  my 
word  good,  I  do  not  and  never  shall  know. 

Now,  whether  Wyokee  is  fated  to  go  on  the  right  side 
of  the  ledger,  or  over  there  with  Musket,  remains  to  be 
seen.  I  think  he's  a  real  trotter,  and  will  be  the  real  thing 
as  a  race  horse ;  but  as  I  may  not  be  present  when  he's  sold, 
1  want  to  say  here  that  I  guarantee  nothing  about  him,  his 
merits,  soundness,  or  anything  else,  except  that  the  high 
bid  gets  him.  When  he's  knocked  down  he's  your  horse, 
whether  he  is  an  escape  from  Hagenback's  trained  animal 
show  or  the  fastest  and  best  trotter  on  earth.  I  bred  him, 
and  he's  been  the  apple  of  my  eye.  He  looks  like  a  race 
horse  and  goes  like  a  race  horse.  He  has  never  been 
trained  a  minute  (I  thought  him  "too  good(  ?)"  to  work 


314  TALES   OF   THE   TURF. 

early,  so  he  was  not  broken  until  last  summer).  He  is  by 
a  game,  fast  horse  out  of  a  game,  fast  mare,  knows 
nothing  but  trot,  and  I've  seen  him  go  fast  for  a  green 
horse. 

I  have  driven  him  daytime  and  night,  and  he  never 
made  a  wrong  move  with  me,  but  a  drunken  stableman 
fell  out  of  the  cart  in  one  of  his  nightly  sprees,  and  the 
colt  ran  home  and  stood  all  night  in  the  shafts.  I  found 
him  the  next  morning — the  "bum"  who  drove  him  I  did 
not  look  for.  Afterward  I  drove  him  repeatedly.  Then 
when  I  took  sick  the  new  stableman  drove  him,  and  he 
(the  stableman)  was  sober.  The  colt  jumped,  in  play,  I 
suppose,  in  turning  a  corner,  and  the  sober  stableman  fell 
out,  so  my  pet  Wyokee  ran  away  again  to  the  stable  and 
waited  to  be  unhitched.  He  never  raised  a  foot  to  kick, 
nor  lost  a  hair.  I  had  Tom  Gallagher  drive  him  since, 
and  he  says  he  couldn't  make  him  do  a  wrong  thing.  But 
there  is  trouble  in  the  "old  man's"  house.  The  stableman 
is  afraid,  the  household  is  afraid,  and  "Benny"  is  sick,  so 
the  colt  has  to  be  sold,  I  suppose  on  the  theory  that  he  is 
surely  bound  to  kill  somebody,  and  my  folks  want  that 
somebody  to  be  somebody  else — Christian  spirit,  isn't  it? 
But  it  is  the  truth,  and  I  sell  him  with  the  chances,  after 
telling  the  facts. 

I  wouldn't  catalogue  all  this  gush  for  anyone  else,  be- 
cause printing  costs — possibly  more  than  Wyokee  is  worth 
— but  I'm  playing  myself  a  favorite  now,  and  it  will  be 
printed — unless  Tipton  kills  it,  which  I  wouldn't  blame 
him  for  doing.  I'll  agree  to  say  no  more  about  Wyokee, 
even  if  I'm  at  the  sale  when  he  is  hammered.  As  George 
Bain  says,  "You  take  him  like  you  take  your  girl — for 
better  or  for  worse." 


